Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter
JACK BE GOOD (right) with Clive Lynch in the saddle, getting the better of the Allen Maragh-ridden DANCING SAM (5) by a neck in last Saturday's seventh race at Caymanas Park. JACK BE GOOD went off at 13-1. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SPEEDY American-bred FUTZ will have to be caught in tomorrow afternoon's 1200-metre Labour Day Trophy feature race at Caymanas Park.
Unbeaten in his last two starts among $350,000 claimers, five-year-old FUTZ is up in class among $420,000 company including horses slipping down from Overnight Allowance.
However, FUTZ, a well-bred American, seems to be at a stage of late improvement and has never been in better form, judging from his May 6 win at 1100 metres, an effortless victory over ASTRO CRUNCH and KING AL.
CHANGE IN FORM
Proving a change of barn, from Alroy Watson to Victor Williams, had produced no side effects, FUTZ was never in danger of defeat and was pulling away at the end under jockey Phillip Clunis.
Nevertheless, FUTZ's sudden turn-around in form, having competed as low as $160,000 claiming, where he won two races this year, has failed to convince punters. They are yet to make him favourite after five wins from his last seven starts.
Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta's down in class HEARTOFAMAVERICK is bound to get heavy backing, but he was quietly fancied at odds of 5-2 last time out and failed to cope with splits of 23.2, 47.1, finishing almost 11 lengths behind MEDICAL REPORT on May 6.
FUTZ showed blinding speed the same afternoon, ripping 23.3, 46.4, albeit against lesser lights. He reports with only 52.0 kilos and is drawn widest in the eight-horse field from where he should easily circle rivals before settling on the bridle leaving the half-mile bend.
Of FUTZ's other rivals, CONCORDE and SHAHID are hopelessly outsped, whereas ZICKWARTY has not been showing his usual dash in recent races and appears to have gone off-colour.
RISTO-CAT, who's also tumbling from Overnight Allowance, made a brave bid mid-March at 1000 metres straight when slipping in among claimers off a six-month lay-up, losing by a head in a driving finish to ROYAL MALICE.
However, a speculative attempt back up in class at 1400 metres, finishing next-to-last, followed by a similar effort behind FLYING TIGER over the five-straight course, suggest RISTO-CAT is still groping for form and fitness.
NATURAL PRINCE, with forceful Trevor Simpson aboard, will try keeping FUTZ honest on the lead but was clearly held by the second-placed American-bred at 1000 metres straight early last month when finishing third behind ROYAL MALICE.
THE MINISTER could be FUTZ's main danger in the rush for the wire. He was closing steadily on SCOTCH-ONTHEROCKS at 1000 metres straight earlier this month, losing by a length and a half. Post position one could be THE MINISTER's undoing as he could get bogged down along the rail, especially at the half-mile, with the faster horses drawn on his outside and getting first run into the lane. However, if the speedsters, NATURAL PRINCE and FUTZ get caught up on the lead and swing too wide into the lane, THE MINISTER's stretch kick could prove lethal.
