TEN horses from the $240,000 - $210,000 claiming spread are down to contest today's Caymanas Park feature for the Mountain Music Trophy over 1800 metres. Post time is 12:30 p.m.
With the immediate form of the starters by no means appealing, the race promises to be an intriguing contest among the likes of LUCKI PLUCKI, GROOM'S BRIDE, RESTLESS TAJ, SERENADING ROOSTER, TECH TALK, DR. ICE and THE REAL MEDIC.
LUCKI PLUCKI produced a rare turn of speed to beat a good field over 1200 metres on April 29, but he has failed to reproduce that form in three subsequent races. The four-year-old gelding, now trained by Garrett Arscott, will love this stiff 1800 metres and could go close from his convenient mark of 53kg.
RESTLESS TAJ, on the other hand, has achieved more than any of his opponents this season, having won three races in a row quite impressively between March 8 and April 22. However, judging from his past two performances, it would appear he has lost his edge.
After weighing the pros and cons, I believe it will come down to a three-way tussle involving SERENADING ROOSTER, TECH TALK and THE REAL MEDIC, all well suited to the distance.
The Joshua Morrison-trained SERENADING ROOSTER is out for the first time since January 26, but despite this has been on the move at exercise and will report fit.
Although running poorly behind HIGH PROFILE as the 6-5 favourite last time out, SERENADING ROOSTER finished only 4 1/2 lengths fourth to SUAVE NATIVE over one mile in a race on December 22. The five-year-old son of Schism has been trained with a purpose for today's encounter and with jockey Elvis Murray having won with him in the past, can prove equal to the task with only 52kg.
Leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths is down to partner the American 3-y-o gelding TECH TALK whose only success came over a distance of ground on May 10. He ran on strongly to catch and beat GROOM'S BRIDE over the circular nine course that day on a $180,000 claiming tag.
Since then, TECH TALK has been claimed by Rowan Mathie. Fitted with the blinkers for the first time on June 10, he caught the eye when finishing 7 3/4 lengths fourth (staying on) to TERRA FIRMA over 1300 metres, this on a $310,000 tag. Now stepping down to compete and the distance ideal, TECH TALK is expected to fight out the finish. Despite his strong claims, preference is for THE REAL MEDIC, who will report in good condition.
After beating a good field over a mile on January 29, the four-year-old gelding from the stables of Desmond Shand has failed to deliver in four subsequent races, but did show enough behind TIME AND AGAIN over the circular nine course on May 31 to suggest he is on the rebound.
Now stepping down to compete, THE REAL MEDIC (visor on, tongue tie now fitted) has the pace and turn of foot to put away this field. And he is light enough to accomplish his objective with only 52kg. Andrew Thomas has the ride.
Other firm fancies on the card are QUANTRILL (aimed too low) over recent winner CELEBRITY and GENERAL TUZ in the second race, SWEET MEDIC (fitter) to go one better in the fourth, SANDBAGGER (knocking at the door) over ST. TULIS GIRL in the fifth, MEDICAL ALERT (fit) over CHINUA and HURRICANE FURY in the eighth and SALSA over old rival SIR THAKUR BABA in the closing race over 1200 metres.
By Orville Clarke
Freelance Writer
