Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Only eight races are slated to be run at Caymanas Park, yet the programme offers two trophy races.
These are the three-year-old and up overnight allowance for the Merry Deal Cup over the straight five course and the $350,000-$330,000 claiming race for the Grooms' Association of Jamaica Trophy, also over the straight.
Eleven starters have been declared for the Grooms' Association Trophy and with the likes of NASATOL, TUTOR, SCOTCHONTHEROCKS, TASSY'S WHIP, NUMERO UNO and SIMPLEXITY present, this promises to be a highly-competitive affair.
Indications are that the winner will come from a quartet of course specialists, namely NASATOL, NUMERO UNO, SCOTCHONTHEROCKS and of course the fleet-footed grey filly SIMPLEXITY, who was an easy winner over the course on October 4.
The Robert Darby Sr.-trained SIMPLEXITY led home NUMERO UNO by 2-1/2 lengths in the smart time of 57.3 and with the then favourite NASTATOL, who finished third, coming back to win impressively over the course on October 21, this speaks volumes for the chances of SIMPLEXITY.
Eight have been declared for the Merry Deal Cup and indications are it will come down to a group comprising SUPER NATURAL, DANCING SAM, COMIN TRUE and the stable companions DIESEL and FIRE WORKS.
The Wayne DaCosta-trained SUPER NATURAL caught the eye on October 7 when failing by three-quarter length to catch CHARMING LUTHER in the G.A. 'Sarge' Bucknor Memorial Cup over the straight, a race in which DIESEL finished 2-1/4 lengths third from a bad draw and FIRE WORKS 4-1/2 lengths sixth from the dreaded number one post position.
Lightly-raced colt
The one I like best, however, is COMIN TRUE, a lightly-raced American three-year-old colt to be ridden by Richie Mitchell in place of stable jockey Brian Harding, who left the island on Sunday to deal with some personal business in Trinidad and Tobago. Harding is due to return on Friday.
Although managing only fourth to FOUND IN THE MIST over 1200 metres when highly fancied on October 16, COMIN TRUE has trained so impressively for this race that he will be hard to beat from his favourable outside position.
Trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, the son of Is It True galloped five furlongs out of the gate in 59.2 last Wednesday morning, the first four in 46.1. And prior to that he breezed six furlongs in 1:14.3.
There was a lot to like about his close second to KYSHA BABY over the course on August 19 and his subsequent victory over HIDALGO and PRINCESS SUE on August 30. He should win from DIESEL and SUPER NATURAL.
Other firm fancies on the card are RUCKUS to stave off old rival KERMIT in the second race, down in class SANTA ANITA GIRL over JACK DE FREAK in the third, ME LLAMO in the 4th and BLUE MARLIN to catch FIREWATER at a mile in the fifth.
