Todd has lock on feature

By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

ROUND four of the popular Craven "A" Claiming Championship series is on at Caymanas Park today, the 1200 metres race having attracted 10 starters.

Defending Craven "A" trainer Richard Todd, who leads the current series, holds a strong hand with SPECIAL ENVOY and BRIBERY and could well widen his lead today. However, horses like STORMGATE, SHE'S REVIEW, TEXAS WIN and ROYAL VICTORY will be trying to put the brakes on both BRIBERY and SPECIAL ENVOY.

While BRIBERY is winless in 11 starts this season, the grey mare showed positive signs last Saturday when finishing 5 1/2 lengths fourth (staying on) to out of class JAMAICA GOLD in a round five race. BRIBERY will welcome the additional 200 metres and with connections going for champion jockey Andrew Ramgeet, the hint should be taken.

SPECIAL ENVOY, on the other hand, bids for his fourth consecutive victory, having won race number two in the current series over the circular nine course on April 22 by 4 3/4 lengths. Since then he completed a hat-trick of wins over 1300 metres on May 10, running on well from below the distance to catch and beat the front running STORMGATE by 1 1/4 lengths.

The eight-year-old son of Wise Emissary out of the 1987 One Thousand Guineas winner Silent Account continues to move nicely at exercise. He returns on the convenient mark of 53.0kg and even with the trip reduced, will not go down easily with apprentice Kenyatta Davis again in the saddle.

STORMGATE, with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths now taking the ride, is fit as hands can make him and should make another brave bid from in front. Oddly enough, he is 3.0kg worse off with SPECIAL ENVOY in the scales, but with the trip reduced he should prove that much harder to tag, and is not to be taken lightly.

Also in with a sound chance is SHE'S REVIEW, who has lowered her sights to vie for this trophy. The six-year-old mare from the stables of Ryan Darby will not find the distance too sharp, having finished a close second to QUANTUM LEAP over 1300 metres in the James B. Dawes Memorial Cup on May 3 when contesting a $180,000 tag.

SHE'S REVIEW has been kept on the move at exercise and along with STORMGATE, BRIBERY and the fairly consistent TEXAS WIN, who will not find the distance too short, should ensure that my selection, SPECIAL ENVOY, is extended. SHE'S REVIEW and STORMGATE are his main dangers.

Other firm fancies on the card are the improving WYLE COYOTE, having finished a good third to stable-companion GO BABY GO in the Red Stripe Dash last Saturday, to romp the first race, CELEBRITY in the 5th, BINGO PARTY in the 7th, ACRO IRIS over OUR HOME REMEDY, ATLANTIC PRINCESS and SIR KISSON LAL in the 8th race for maiden three-year-olds, MATANAH to catch the fleet-footed LURWISH in the 10th and OLD HARBOUR over HERECOMESTHETHIEF and WINNING WAYS in the closing race over 1100 metres.

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