Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Miracle Man, running at odds of 9-2 with Florida-based Jamaican jockey Allen Maragh aboard, romps the 27th Red Stripe Superstakes over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday, November 12, 2005. Miracle Man went from post-to-post, scoring by six lengths over Distinctly Irish (right) with Winston Griffiths aboard and fourth place Good Company (left), ridden by Charles Hussey. Eleven ran. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer.
Last year's winner MIRACLE MAN heads a field of 11 in the 28th running of the Red Stripe Superstakes (invitational) over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park today.
First run in 1978 when victory went to the legendary LEGAL LIGHT, the Superstakes, which pits the best of the three-year-olds against the best of the older horses, has been the foremost race on the calendar and this year will be no exception.
The well supported 12-race programme not only features the Superstakes, but the $2 million Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint over 1200 metres for which the three-year-old colt, RAMPAGE, is the ante-post favourite; the $1.5 million Red Stripe Mile for imported horses, the $1.5 million Red Stripe 2-Y-O Breeders' Stakes over 1400 metres, the $600,000 Red Stripe Draught over 1400 metres for overnight allowance horses and the $390,000 Red Stripe Claiming Sprint over 1100 metres for $160,000 claimers.
If that wasn't enough, the card also features the fourth staging of the US$3,000 Red Stripe Jockeys' Challenge to be conducted on four select races.
Eleven starters declared
Eleven starters have been declared for the Superstakes, including the hot ante-post favourite MIRACLE MAN who romped the race last year and is unbeaten since.
Owned by Joseph 'Fudgie' Duany and trained by veteran 'Hall of Famer' Allan 'Billy' Williams, MIRACLE MAN has progressed along the right lines since winning the race by 5 3/4 lengths from the then favourite DISTINCTLY IRISH last year.
Today he bids for his 10th consecutive win and having beaten the best horses in the country en route to eight consecutive trophy races over varied distances this season - giving away lumps of weight in the process - it will take a brave punter to oppose him, especially with his rivals either sitting level or close to him in the scales.
To put it bluntly, it will take an act of God to deny MIRACLE MAN. Bred by his owner, the massive 4-y-o colt by Law Of The Sea out of Hya has been burning up the track at exercise in preparation for this race and now eased in the weights, down from customary top weight of 60.5kg to 57.0kg by virtue of the conditions (weight for age), he should further solidify his claim as the best native bred horse to grace the Caymanas turf since two-time 'Horse of The Year' LEGAL LIGHT.
MIRACLE MAN can lead or come from behind if the situation demands and will not need to extend himself to lead home the 2004 winner DISTINCTLY IRISH with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths riding for 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny; St. Leger winner ALLIED FORCE under US-based three-time Jamaican champion jockey Andrew Ramgeet and the 2003 winner PITTACUS, the mount of Richie Mitchell.
Florida-based Jamaican jockey Allen 'Bungo John' Maragh renews his association with MIRACLE MAN today, replacing champion jockey Brian Harding who has ridden the colt to victory on the last five occasions.
Harding will instead ride the useful AD INFINITUM for his guv'nor, trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, and Barbadian owner Elias Haloute to whom he is contracted to ride.
Long-time sponsors
Sadly, long-time sponsors Red Stripe Limited (formerly Desnoes & Geddes) will be sponsoring the race and by extension 'Superday' for the last time.
Speaking to this development, Carlo Redwood, Red Stripe's marketing manager for beers, said:
"Basically, we want to go into a more consistent presence at Caymanas Park as against a one-off event.
"We are in negotiations now with CTL to determine what's that going to look like. It's not like we are leaving horseracing, a sport in which our involvement spans three decades. It's just a change in approach as to how we interact with horseracing something different for the future."
Elsewhere on the card, this year's 2000 Guineas winner RAMPAGE is tipped to win the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint over 1200 metres, following his fast-time victory (1:11.3) over the distance in the Grade I None Such Sprint Trophy on October 14 with Wesley Henry riding for owner/trainer Richard Azan. Henry again has the ride.
Other firm fancies are recent winner STRONG HOPE to repeat in the Red Stripe 2-Y-O Breeders' Stakes, stable-companion CLOCK WORK in the Red Stripe Mile and CLASSY BOY PETE over last year's winner CHOSEN ONE and THUNDER SQUAD in the Red Stripe Draught.
