Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
RAMPAGE, ridden by Shane Ellis for owner/trainer Richard Azan, sprints clear of rivals to win the 16th running of the Arthur Jones Memorial Cup, graded stakes feature over 1200 metres, at Caymanas Park in March. RAMPAGE is a strong fancy for today's feature, the She's On Wheels Trophy. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
GRADE ONE horses take the spotlight at Caymanas Park today when they contest the annual renewal of the She's On Wheels Trophy race over 1100 metres in which five have been declared.
Before looking at the feature, the record-breaking Pick-9, having eluded punters for the past 16 racedays, offers a whopping carryover of $27.9 million and with a frenzy of betting anticipated at the park today, a payout in excess of $35 million looks a real possibility.
Punters hoping for a fantastic payday are expected to dig deep into their pockets, as never before, in an effort to corner the popular exotic bet. Even if 100 winners are declared, the payout will still be about $350,000 each.
Despite the small field declared for the She's On Wheels Trophy, the race promises keen competition among the five starters, all of whom are already multiple winners this season.
non-claiming apprentice
The Noel Ennevor-trained MEDICAL REPORT, with non-claiming apprentice Andre Martin aboard, has the best form to recommend, having won his past four races. These include the valuable Lotto Sprint over this trip last time out on May 24, when holding off the reigning champion sprinter, MUSICAL MAESTRO, and SMOOTHABILITY in a blanket finish, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:05.4.
In winning that race, MEDICAL REPORT accounted for the 2006 sprint champion RAMPAGE, who finished on his heels, 1 1/2 lengths fourth running on. The latter enjoys a 4kg swing in the weights largely due to apprentice Harriston Lewis' 2kg claim.
While these two should make it real close at the weights, both CHADMAN and EXPLOSIVE PEAK can definitely enter the mix.
CHADMAN turned in a superlative performance against grade one horses to win the $1 million Digicel Irish Jamaica Stakes over 1300 metres on June 14, storming through approaching the distance to win easily from SMOOTHABILITY and MUSICAL MAESTRO, with RAMPAGE back in fifth.
high in the scales
The American six-year-old gelding, to again be ridden by leading jockey Omar Walker for top trainer Wayne DaCosta, is not too high in the scales with 57.5 to fight out the finish.
The Peter McMaster-trained American filly EXPLOSIVE PEAK takes on grade one company for the first time after winning her past three races, but this will not deter her. She cannot be underestimated with only 53kg and Trevor Simpson again in the saddle.
MEDICAL REPORT, already a leading contender for champion sprinter, will more than likely start favourite in a tight betting race.
But the Richard Azan-trained RAMPAGE has looked well in preparation for this and, remembering his back-to-back wins in the Arthur Jones Cup and Eros Trophy over 1200 and 1400 metres respectively in the first quarter, especially his five-length whipping of CLOCK WORK in the Arthur Jones on March 22 when clocking a brisk 1:12.0, is tipped to rebound, now 4kg better off with MEDICAL REPORT. Other firm fancies are SMILE OUT (fit) ahead of LA'S DANCER in the fourth, JET SKIER in the fifth, AHWHOFAH (working well) in the seventh and stable companions NATURALLY ROYAL and HOME TOWN GIRL in the last two races.
