Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

I AM PAID FOR, running at odds of 8-1 with Clive Lynch aboard, storms through to win the fifth race over 1820 metres (overnight allowance) at Caymanas Park last Saturday, ahead of the subsequently disqualified SIMPLYUNBELIEVABLE (left). The 5-y-o bay gelding is owned by Trevor Rainford and trained by Welsh Soutar. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta has a glorious chance of saddling the winner of the race named in his honour at Caymanas Park today, with his speedy four-year-old gelding BULLET TRAIN.

In addition to the Wayne DaCosta Trophy, an overnight allowance race at 1100 metres, the 10-race programme offers the $350,000-$320,000 claiming race for the Tewfic Ziadie Memorial Cup over the circular nine course as its secondary feature, with eight declared.

This should develop into an interesting contest among the likes of ALL FIRED UP, BANJUHAR, SENORGATO, HEZA RANKING and SATISFIER, who steps up in class after his narrow victory in the James B. Dawes Memorial Trophy at 1300 metres last Saturday.

Although only six starters have been declared for the Wayne DaCosta Trophy, it promises very keen competition as there is much good form present.

It would be quite fitting if six-time champion Wayne DaCosta saddles the winner of the race named in his honour.

He boasts a strong contender in BULLET TRAIN, who was not disgraced when coming to the grade on February 3, finishing four lengths third to the out-of-class EXPLOSIVE PEAK in a fast-run straight five race.

The form of that race has been working out in that the fifth horse, NASATOL, came back to win very easily over the straight in high claiming company on February 17.

NASATOL, however, comes back pretty high in the scales with 57.0kg and now worse off at the scales with BULLET TRAIN, looks held in a bid for his sixth win from his last seven starts.

BULLET TRAIN, who shoulders 56.0kg, has more to fear from the Dwight Chen-trained American bred four-year-old filly COMMANDING LIGHT, who is coming off a good come-from-behind win over the distance in restricted company (non-winners of three) on February 10; the speedy DANCING SAM who looks tempting at the weights with only 52.0kg; and JACK BE GOOD, who can hold his own at this level and is effective over the distance.

Looking sharp

Any of these is capable of winning, but BULLET TRAIN has looked sharp at exercise in his preparation and despite the strong claims of Noel Ennevor's DANCING SAM, who he had behind (sixth) in the race won by EXPLOSIVE PEAK, as well as COMMANDING LIGHT, who will be closing hand over fist under five-time champion Trevor Simpson, DaCosta's gelding gets the vote with competent Dane Nelson in the saddle.

Other firm fancies on the 10-race programme are BANJUHAR (regaining form) over ALL FIRED UP in the seventh race for the Tewfic Ziadie Memorial Cup, down in class HAFIFA to romp the fifth, unbeaten BLUE MAGIC to upstage MARK TOMARKET in the sixth, WINDJAMMER in the eighth and the improving RALLYTOMARKET in the 10th.