Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

STRONG HOPE ... ante-post favourite for Supreme Ventures feature. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

The top two-year-olds in training are down to contest race No.2 in the rich and prestigious Supreme Ventures 2-Y-O Series for the Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park today.

Nine native-bred juveniles go in quest of the $2.5 million purse and from the look of things, it promises to be close with the cream of the crop present.

The series culminates on Boxing Day with the $3 million Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over a mile.

Significantly, the series offers a whopping $8.5 million in purse money, including a million-dollar bonus to the owner of the horse good enough to win all three races. Only STRONG HOPE, who won the first race in the series — the $2 million Cash Pot Only For Me Trophy over 1200 metres on October 14 - is in line to capture the $1 million bonus, providing he can win today and again on Boxing Day.

The real deal

From the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, STRONG HOPE looked the real deal when storming through from well off the pace to beat long-time leader TOOT DE HOOT convincingly in race one of the series, but was subsequently beaten over today's trip when returning on November 11 for the $1.5 million Red Stripe 2-Y-O Breeders' Stakes, a race which resulted in a spectacular blanket finish among the first three — the upset winner RUN ALDEENO, MARK TO MARKET and STRONG HOPE, all trained by DaCosta.

There is very little to choose from among the likes of RUN ALDEENO, MARK TO MARKET and STRONG HOPE, all of whom went by in a three-way photo finish and will have different riders today. RUN ALDEENO, who was tailed off that day but fairly flew the last furlong under U.S.-based former local champion, Andrew Ramgeet, bids to keep his unbeaten record intact and could well complete the hat-trick with competent Dane Nelson replacing Ramgeet.

Simpson back aboard

It is significant to note that five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson who rode STRONG HOPE to victory on October 14, but deserted him for MARK TO MARKET in the Red Stripe 2-Y-O Breeders' Stakes, is back aboard STRONG HOPE, while 'Hall of Famer' Charles Hussey, who rode STRONG HOPE that day now switches to MARK TO MARKET.

With Simpson going back to STRONG HOPE, I think this could make all the difference.

To my mind, STRONG HOPE was a shade unlucky to be beaten in the Breeders' Stakes, having to come wide into the straight and going down fighting on the wide outside.

The late kicking bay gelding by Outrigger out of the 1000 Guineas winner Ray Of Hope has looked real sharp at exercise and I take him to outfinish MARK TO MARKET and RUN ALDEENO in the closing stages. I also like PRINCESS ZANAI in the third, DANIELLE MY GIRL in the fourth, DR. SOCRATES in the fifth, STEAD GOLD in the seventh and SATISFIER in the eighth.