SIR MOHANDAS BABA (right) ... one of the fancies in in today's feature, Long Shot Trophy. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

HORSES FROM the lowest claiming level ($160,000) take centre stage at Caymanas Park today when a large field of 15 contests the Long Shot Trophy over 1300 metres.

It promises to be closely contested with no fewer than six of the starters having good claims.

The main hopefuls are SIR KISSON LAL, ARCHANGEL, SIR MOHANDAS BABA, SAID I SAID I, ISLAND CIGAR and TYRONE SON, who now has the services of co-champion apprentice Carlton Malcolm, and is pretty light as well.

Indeed, TYRONE SON could prove the fly in the ointment with only 49kg if running up to his best. Trained by Dennis Lee, the 6-y-o grey gelding finished 11 lengths fifth to out-of-class HAFIFA over 1100 metres last Saturday, this after running very wide into the straight, and is one to note, given the additional furlong of this race.

Suited to the distance

Still, the horses expected to carry the bulk of the betting are ISLAND CIGAR, SAID I SAID I and SIR MOHANDAS BABA, all ideally suited to the distance. Others worthy of consideration are SIR KISSON LAL and ARCHANGEL.

I believe the winner will come from a quartet comprising ISLAND CIGAR, SAID I SAID I, TYRONE SON and SIR MOHANDAS BABA, who will not find the trip too sharp.

SAID I SAID I beat a good field over 1400 metres on January 31, and was not disgraced in his subsequent race when finishing a close-up fifth (running on) to SOUTHERN DANCER over the straight five course.

The nine-year-old gelding returns on the lenient mark of 52kg by virtue of the apprentice Andre Martin's claiming allowance, and coming from the in-form stables of Robert Darby Sr., is confidently expected to fight out the finish.

Down in class

The one I like best, however, is ISLAND CIGAR, who steps down in class to vie for this trophy.

Trained by Donovan Raymond, the 7-y-o dark bay gelding by Star Of Manila out of the French Champagne mare Havana, ISLAND CIGAR caught the eye when finish fifth to SEA DA BREEZE over a mile on a $200,000 tag on February 24. He actually turned for home two lengths second and was still in that position a furlong out, before weakening a bit in the closing stages to finish six lengths fifth.

Now down in class and his fitness not in doubt,ISLAND CIGAR, who was a 16-length winner over 1500 metres on December 20, has a glorious chance of taking home this trophy. He is well drawn on the outside of the field and with bustling Clive Lynch again in the saddle, should stave off TYRONE SON and SAID I SAID I. I am expecting him to race in close touch before taking over from early in the straight.

I also like ADINA to win the third race, ROYAL FLAME in the fifth, TAKE FIVE to go one better in the sixth, DON'T STAY NAKED in the seventh, HIDALGO in the eighth and PASSA PASSA in the ninth for overnight allowance horses.