Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Apprentice Andre Martin aboard JACK SPARROW after his decisive victory in the Frankie Frazer Memorial feature over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park, on May 19. The combination looks set to prevail again today in the feature Cecil C. Charlton Trophy. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

THE ANNUAL renewal of the $460,000-$440,000 claiming race for the Cecil C. Charlton Trophy headlines today's midweek programme at Caymanas Park and indications are the down-in-class JACK SPARROW will come into his own and win.

The mount of smart apprentice Andre Martin, JACK SPARROW has lowered his sights in quest of this trophy, dropping from open allowance to high claiming company, a significant factor in assessing his chances.

He comes into the race on the convenient mark of 53kg and with the distance right up his street, is tipped to resume winning ways.

Sparrow's winning streak

It should be noted that JACK SPARROW won his last race overthis trip on May 19, coming from last to first to lift the Frankie Frazer Memorial Cup for overnight allowance horses in fine style.

With young Martin in the saddle, JACK SPARROW beat horses of the calibre of ROYAL COMMAND, WHITE DIAMOND and then favourite PASSA PASSA in the fairly good time of 1:19.3.

When last raced on August 1, JACK SPARROW was not disgraced when finishing 7 1/2 lengths sixth (after missing the break) to CHADMAN in the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission Trophy race over 1400 metres, this for open allowance horses.

Although in an easier spot today, the five-year-old gelding from the stables of Rowan Mathie will still need to be at his best in order to put away the likes of DIGI N' JIGGY, JACK BE GOOD and hat-trick seeker, JET BLASTER.

DIGI N ' JIGGY and JACK BE GOOD have the proven class to fight out the finish. JACK BE GOOD, in particular, was installed a 7-5 favourite to win over 1200 metres in overnight allowance company on September 1. However, he found the down-in-class TOBAGO too strong in the closing stages and went down by three-quarter length under leading jockey Trevor Simpson, in what was a fast-run race (1:12.2).

Prior to that, on August 11, JACK BE GOOD finished a close third to NASATOL over 1200 metres in open allowance company and a similar effort here, could enable him to give trainer Solomon Sharpe his first career win, even with the sparingly used jockey Linden Lewis replacing Simpson.

I am expecting DIGI N'JIGGY, JACK BE GOOD and UNCLE D & ME to ensure a brisk early pace, thus setting up the victory for the late-kicking JACK SPARROW.

Other firm fancies on the card are WE WILL SEE to repeat in the fifth race, the well-prepared PURE JUSTICE to rebound in the seventh, INSATIABLE (regaining form) to lead home KAZ HO ME and YYESSBABY in the eighth over the straight five course, the well-trained PITTACUS over DIAMOND EXPRESS and PASSA PASSA in the ninth race for overnight allowance horses and MAKE THEM LAFF over ROYAL KINGDOM and THUNDER CLAP in the nightpan.