FILE
From left: (1) Musical Maestro ... dangerous; (2) La Reina ... consistent. (3 Just Some Thoughts ... best equipped and (4) Rampage ... could go all the way.

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Eight horses are down to contest today's million-dollar feature, the CTL Gold Cup over 1400 metres, and what a race it promises to be.

One of the longest-standing races on the calendar for top class horses, the Gold Cup dates back to 1967 when the inaugural running was won by the legendary KILOWATT.

Despite the absence of last year's winner CLOCK WORK and DISTINCTLY IRISH who was given too much weight (60.5kg) and was withdrawn as a result, the race has enough good recent form to provide fireworks.

The competitive field includes the recent Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint champion RAMPAGE with title-chasing jockey Wesley Henry again in the saddle; MUSICAL MAESTRO who recently broke the straight five track record; FORMALLY GOLD who repre-sents the class horse of the field; back-to-form American JUST SOME THOUGHTS and the consistent 4-y-o filly LA REINA with champion jockey Brian Harding aboard.

Of the above-mentioned contenders, any is capable of winning on current form. The Wayne DaCosta-trained imported mare, FORMALLY GOLD, has proved competitive against the very best, beaten by horses of the calibre of MIRACLE MAN and QUIET STRENGTH over varied distances.

No luck

When last raced in the Red Stripe Mile won by stable-companion CLOCK WORK on November 11, FORMALLY GOLD had no luck in running under top weight of 60.5kg, having suffered interference on the inside at the half-mile and was never able to recover.

Today, however, FORMALLY GOLD has come down considerably in the weights by virtue of apprentice Omar Walker's 4.0kg claiming allowance and having caught the eye at exercise, can definitely come into her own.

The Richard Azan-trained RAMPAGE (working well) should have lots of supporters following back-to-back wins over 1200 metres coming into this race and could well go all the way.

One of the best prepared horses in the race must surely be MUSICAL MAESTRO from the in-form stables of trainer Dwight Chen. He has looked the part in a recent exercise spin, galloping five and a half furlongs in 1:06.2 on Monday, and coming back from his record- breaking run with a light impost, should prove dangerous.

To my mind, the one best equipped to pull it off must be JUST SOME THOUGHTS, who was a runaway winner over 1200 metres on November 22.

Eleven days prior to that race, the Fitznahum Williams-trained colt failed by three-quarters of a length to catch CLOCK WORK in the fast-run Red Stripe Mile, a performance which makes him a very appealing proposition with a mere 49.0kg and in-form Paul 'Country' Francis aboard. He has never been better and will not go down easily.

Other firm fancies on the card are HERECOMESFUDGIE in the 3rd race, SATISFIER in the 5th, PURE MUD to repeat in the 7th, DORALDO in the 8th and VENOM over BUSTER JACK and STATE PRINCE in the nightpan.