Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
The favourite BLOW WIND BLOW, with apprentice Omar Walker aboard, holds on grimly to thwart a flying finish from RAINBOW TRAIN, Douglas Badaloo aboard, in the Altamond V. Armond Memorial Cup feature over 2000m at Caymanas Park on Saturday. BLOW WIND BLOW runs again today in the eighth race. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
The bang in form NASATOL looks the horse to beat when he takes on seven opponents in today's feature race for the Millard Ziadie Cup over 1100 metres at Caymanas Park.
It is confined to horses in the $350,000-$320,000 claiming spread. This is the penultimate race in the mushrooming Pick-9 which offers a huge $8 million carryover.
With some heavy betting expected from punters today, a first prize in excess of $11 million looks a real possibility. The Pick-9 embraces races three to 11 on the card.
The Millard Ziadie Cup should provide much speed with the likes of ROBIN'S BAY, TIME OF MY LIFE, EMMVEEPEE and NASATOL present and the winner will more than likely emerge from this quartet.
NASATOL, the mount of champion apprentice Carlton Malcolm, won over the distance on Boxing Day, leading home EMMVEEPEE by three lengths despite bleeding, this after disputing the lead into the straight.
Prior to that, on December 16 the six-year-old grey gelding won over the same trip in the smart time of 1:06.1 when trained by Dennis Lee and was a good winner over the straight course earlier on in the fairly good time of 58.3.
NASATOL, who stepped with grade one horses when trained by Wayne DaCosta a year ago, has the class to upstage his seven opponents. But he still has to work in order to put them away, as the DaCosta-trained filly ROBIN'S BAY and Desmond Shand's TIME OF MY LIFE will be coming to make things pretty hot.
If coming away in good order, ROBIN'S BAY is sure to set off in front and will have to be caught, even though proving to be a short runner. ROBIN'S BAY should be closed tracked by the trio of TIME OF MY LIFE, NASATOL and EMMVEEPEE. But with NASATOL still conveniently placed in the weights with only 51.0kg, the son of Pat N Jac looks best equipped to overhaul ROBIN'S BAY, who should still be in front passing the furlong pole.
Trained by Robert Darby Snr., NASATOL not only has the fastest time over the distance, but the best form to boot as well. He thus gets the vote.
Other firm fancies on the card are the 2006 Governor's Cup and St. Leger winner ALLIEDFORCE to romp the second race over the circular nine course for open allowance horses, WHITE WATER to rebound in the 3rd, SUMMER WIND to land the 5th, Saturday's scorer BLOW WIND BLOW to repeat in the 8th, UNIQUE SELECTION to catch ROCK STAR QUEEN and ISLAND CIGAR in the knotty-looking last race over 1400 metres.
