Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer
SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS, with Leo Miller aboard, disposes of long-time leader ROYAL MAJESTY (Paul Francis) to win the eighth race over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. A winner at odds of 5-2, SHE OUTRAGEOUS is owned by S&S Camp and trained by Lawrence Freemantle. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
The absence of a trophy race on today's nine-race programme at Caymanas Park brings into focus the three-year-old and up open allowance race over 1100 metres, which promises to be a humdinger.
There is an abundance of rich form present, to the extent that none of the seven starters can be safely overlooked.
The field includes RIO INFINITO, MINISTEROFFINANCE and ASKAWOMAN, all winners last time out, as well as the recent dual winner MUCHO GUSTO. The latter failed in his bid for the hat-trick when finishing a close third to the favourite, MUSICAL MAESTRO, in the valuable BG&LC Trophy race over 1400 metres on August 1.
In addition to the above, the other three starters - NASATOL, RIGMAROLE and ROMEZ - have the ability to fight out the finish, truly a race deserving of a trophy.
GOOD HAND
Trainer Gary Subratie holds a good hand with the speedy pair of RIGMAROLE and RIO INFINITO. The latter is coming off a good win over the distance last Saturday in the Gerry Skelton Memorial Trophy (overnight allowance). Although stepping up to open allowance company today, RIO INFINITO will do so fit and pretty light with 49.5kg and the task at hand is not beyond her in present frame of mind.
RIGMAROLE looks the fastest in the lineup and will have to be caught. It should be recalled that the six-year-old gelding notched his last win over this trip on April 30, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:04.4. He subsequently ran EXPLOSIVE PEAK to a neck in a round-five race on June 28. Those performances speak volumes for his chances.
BLISTERING PACE
With the race expected to be run at a blistering early pace, I believe they will play into the hands of MUCHO GUSTO from the in-form stables of Anthony 'Baba' Nunes.
Prior to his third pace finish to MUSICAL MAESTRO on Emancipation Day, MUCHO GUSTO won back-to-back races over 1200 metres, most recent on July 5, by a short head, from GOOD CITIZEN.
The four-year-old bay gelding, by Law Of The Sea out of Sweet Desire, had some good horses behind him in the BG&LC Trophy, a race in which he had every chance when challenging three-wide for the lead approaching the distance. This sprint is ideal for MUCHO GUSTO, who has the pace to race in touch of the general leaders, RIGMAROLE, RIO INFINITO, ASKAWOMAN and MINISTEROFFINANCE, before storming through in the last furlong. Former champion Shane Ellis again has the ride from the convenient mark of 55.0kg.
I also like CHINA TOWN (regaining form) to win the third race, PRINCESS NESSA to make all ahead of MARKET BRIDLE in the fourth, CLOSETOPERFECT in the sixth, TWENTY NINE to catch CHOSEN ONE in the seventh and CHOO CHOO CHOO ahead of WILD AT HEART in the closing straight- five race.
