Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterFour-year-olds and up non-winners of two are down to contest today's Caymanas Park feature race for the Henry George Harrison Memorial Cup over 1300 metres.
Only six starters have been declared for the restricted allowance feature, including the ante-post favourite STREET FIGHTER who, despite his habit of drifting out in the straight, gets a glorious opportunity to win for the second time in 27 starts.
Trained by the veteran Alfred Wright, STREET FIGHTER has been running consistently well in recent months, failing by half-length #subsequently disqualified) to stave off the fast-finishing EL PEQUENO over 1400 metres on April 9.
On that occasion he galloped past the furlong pole in front by 11/2 lengths, but drifted out at a crucial stage and was caught close home by EL PEQUENO.
STREET FIGHTER subsequently finished a close third to NAHIMA over the circular nine course on April 25, this after coming to the last furlong a length on top but drifting out to some extent once again.
Despite this he was able to finish half a length ahead of CHINA TOWN who renews rivalry on 1.0kg worse terms today, but looks the only one capable of extending him in this small field.
With the trip reduced, however, STREET FIGHTER, who has had CHINA TOWN behind on the last two occasions they have met, looks the right choice.
He has good speed an GO MAR GO (regaining form), who showed up prominently for a long way behind LIGHT MY FIRE in the Portmore Community Trophy over 1100 metres last Saturday, is expected to take him on from early, STREET FIGHTER should prevail at the expense of CHINA TOWN.
Competent claiming apprentice Harriston Lewis rides him from the convenient mark of 51.0kg.
VERY FIT
Elsewhere on the programme, the open allowance race over the circular nine-course should provide keen competition among the nine starters, most of whom are very fit.
Horses such as ALLIEDFORCE, TOBAGO, PITTACUS and the stable companions GOOD COMPANY and HIDALGO are ideally suited to the trip and the recent winner CLASSY BOY PETE is also in good nick.
Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta holds a strong hand with late-kicking GOOD COMPANY, who gets the ideal trip on this occasion and HIDALGO, who looks tempting at the weights with 50.0kg.
The Anthony Nunes-trained PITTACUS, now eased a bit in the weights, is always dangerous going two turns, while Noel Ennevor's ALLIEDFORCE won both the Lotto Classic and St. Leger last season and judging from his preparation, could well prove the right choice with Oneil Mullings aboard.
I also like NEGRIL LASS in the third race, PASSA PASSA in the fourth, WAGONIST in the sixth, JADORE in the ninth and MASANIELLO over MAGDALA in the 11th and final.
