Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

The favourite RED OCTOBER (left), ridden by Richard Mitchell, gets the best of long-time leader SPLASHIN RIVER (Paul Francis) to win the sixth race over 1500m for maiden four-year-olds and up at Caymanas Park on Easter Monday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Seven horses drawn from the claiming spread $460,000-$410,000 (high claiming) are down to contest today's Caymanas Park feature race over 1600 metres for the City of Kingston Centenary Cup.

Also on the 10-race programme, which kicks off at noon, is the $170,000 claiming race for the Dr. David 'Jack' Radix Memorial Cup over the circular nine course to be contested by 12 starters, including main hopefuls MICHAEL POWER, SIR KISSON LAL, SIR CHACHA BABA, MANISH, SIR MOHANDAS BABA, SEEMELATER and COUNCIL MAN.

In the main feature, SIR KHAN, the likely favourite, can expect stiff competition from the 2003 Governor's Cup and St. Leger winner HERECOMESFUDGIE and the super fit five-year-old mare ALL FIRED UP, who bids for a hat-trick of wins.

These should carry the bulk of the betting, even though others such as ASTRO CRUNCH and INTROSPECTION are fit enough to keep the principals honest.

HERECOMESFUDGIE should come in for a lot of support despite racing for the first time since December 9 when finishing second (lame) to AZULI over the distance.

Good condition

Although out for the first time this season, HERECOMESFUDGIE reports in good condition, and on the strength of the last run, not to mention his back class, could prove hard to beat from the convenient mark of 52.0kg and title-chasing jockey Paul 'Country' Francis aboard.

SIR KHAN has won two of his five races this season and last time out finished a close third as the 4-5 favourite to TOBAGO (a winner again since) over 1500 metres.

SIR KHAN was claimed out of that race, moving from the stables of Dennis Lee to Desmond Shand who has a way with newly acquired claims. The five-year-old gelding by Sir Lal Bahadur out of Scarlet Sunset has trained well in preparation for this race, and back in action from the lenient mark of 50.0kg and in-form apprentice Omar Walker aboard must have a grand chance of resuming winning ways.

Consistent campaigner

Although beaten by SIR KHAN on the three occasions they have met this season, ALL FIRED UP has become such a genuine and consistent campaigner that she cannot be taken lightly with only 50.0kg and top apprentice Javour Simpson aboard.

All factors considered, SIR KHAN who has pace and is a genuine miler, gets the nod, but only just from HERECOMESFUDGIE and ALL FIRED UP.

The Dr. David 'Jack' Radix Memorial Cup promises keen competition among the 12 starters, but after careful consideration it should go to the down-in-class MICHAEL POWER, who has already won twice this season. He gets the nod over SIR MOHANDAS BABA, MANISH and SEEMELATER, all well suited to the distance.

Other firm fancies on the card are WE WILL SEE in the second race, PADDY'S STORM to stave off RAINBOW TRAIN in the fourth, AVALANCHE to go one better in the sixth and MAJOR MAYER to rebound in the ninth.