Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
SMILE OUT, one of three winners for champion jockey Omar Walker, sprints clear of rivals to win the third race over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday, this as the 4-5 favourite. Walker also won aboard CALL OF THE WILD and stable-companion MARATHON MAN.
Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer
With the Superstakes scheduled for next Saturday, today's racing at Caymanas Park progresses on a moderate note. The card features nine races, including the Grooms' Association Trophy (claiming $325,000-$295,000) to be contested by nine starters over the straight five course.
Those expected to carry the bulk of the betting are JET SKI D'OR with customary rider Milton Powell aboard, BACK POCKET who has the services of in-form Kerry-Gayle Robinson, FIRETRAIN, the mount of former champion Shane Ellis, and the sparingly raced three-year-old gelding, NATIONAL GALLERY, with visiting Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas riding for his guv'nor, trainer Percy Hussey.
The winner is almost sure to emerge from this quartet and they should ensure keen competition.
Could own finish
JET SKI D'OR and BACK POCKET are specialists over the course and with this in mind, they could have the finish to themselves. Both have won in recent months, the Desmond Shand-trained JET SKI D'OR getting up in the nick of time to beat CHARMING LUTHER and LITTLEREDCORVETTE over the course on August 23 in the good time of 0:58.2, this on a $450,000 claiming tag. And last time out, he lost few marks in defeat when chasing home out-of-class course specialist, DOUBLE BOW, over the straight on October 20.
JET SKI D'OR, still very fit and now dropped in class, is sure to make a bold bid.
The same is true of BACK POCKET, who was also beaten by DOUBLE BOW in another straight five race on October 3, finishing 4-1/4 lengths third on a $350,000 claiming tag.
Prior to that, the four-year-old filly from the stables of Steadman Curtis won back-to-back races over the straight. To my mind, JET SKI D'OR would appear to have a better chance than BACK POCKET, but the one best equipped to take home this trophy must be the three-year-old NATIONAL GALLERY, who has been trained to the minute for today's encounter.
Coming from an in-form stable, NATIONAL GALLERY looked sharp on October 22 when galloping 5-1/2 furlongs in 1:08.0, the last five in 1:01.3. Since then, he breezed three furlongs in 35.4 last Monday morning, but was earlier caught in a faster 34.4 for the same distance on the morning of October 9.
With his preparation complete, NATIONAL GALLERY will prove hard to deny. He wasn't beaten far (seven lengths seventh) by HOMBRE in the Royal Crest Trophy over 1200 metres on October 1 and now that much fitter should lead home the very dangerous JET SKI D'OR and BACK POCKET.
Other firm fancies on the card are the late running RIGGED TO WIN to catch DANCING SAM in the second race over her pet trip of 1100 metres; SMART VICTORY in the fourth; GREAT SENSATION (regaining form) in the fifth; HE'S REALLY OK in the sixth; and DA GLITTERMAN ahead of THAT'S DACURE in the nightpan.
