Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
TODAY has been designated the RJR Corporate Raceday at Caymanas Park, the well supported 11-race programme featuring the RJR 50th Anniversary Classic (overnight allowance) over 1500 metres.
In addition to the principal feature, to be contested by the maximum 16 starters, the card features a number of RJR related races.
These include the Lester Spaulding Gold Cup in honour of the company's chairman/ managing director; the Radio 2 Sprint, Fabulous Fame race, the TVJ's Challenge Cup, the RJR Leaders Cup, Radio Jamaica Challenge Trophy and the Hol Plummer's Trophy.
The inaugural RJR Communi-cations Group Advertising Award will be done on track with the Radio Group taking over the infield for the day. This will see the company honouring its advertising partners and top billing agents who have consistently sold the station to not only Corporate Jamaica, but also to Jamaicans from every walks of life.
Under the theme 'Fashion through the Years', punters will be treated to a spectacle featuring Allan Magnus and Dorraine Samuels, Don Topping, Keith Brown, Richie B and 'The Vibes Master' Jerry D, among other radio personalities.
The RJR 50th Anniversary Classic has attracted the maximum 16 starters and with most having good claims, what a race it promises to be.
Leading lights are recent winners PROCEEDACCORDINGLY, BISTRO and BODY & SOUL, as well as ZEEDON, CIELO MYSTIQUE, CHECK ME OUT, ZIRCON and MIRANDA WARNING.
Champion jockey Andrew Ramgeet is down to ride PROCEEDACCORDINGLY, who shoulders topweight of 57.0kg. The four-year-old gelding from the stables of Jose Pinchin was most impressive in beating BISTRO and company over a mile on June 24 with Ramgeet aboard, but came back with a poor run under topweight behind BISTRO when installed a 6-5 favourite on July 12.
With both PROCEEDACCORDINGLY and BISTRO having joint topweight today, not to mention BODY & SOUL (tongue tie on) who has her fair share of weight (55.0kg) as well, I believe they will fall victims to the lightweights ZEEDON, CASTAGNA, CIELO MYSTIQUE, ZIRCON and particularly MIRANDA WARNING, all fit enough to be concerned in the final shakeup.
Both MIRANDA WARNING and back to form ZEEDON look tempting at the weights. However, for me the choice has to be the American filly MIRANDA WARNING, who followed up her May 10 win over PROCCEDACCORDINGLY with a good fifth to BODY & SOUL over 1800 metres on May 31 when toting topweight of 57.0kg.
She actually turned for home the leader before the weight took its toll approaching the distance, eventually finishing 7 3/4 lengths fifth. Back in action with only 51.0kg and competent apprentice Neville Stephenson aboard, the Patrick Chang-trained MIRANDA WARNING (fit) holds the key to this tough race. I am expecting her to race in touch of the expected leaders CHECK ME OUT and ZEEDON, before coming through with her winning effort approaching the distance. She should win from ZEEDON, CIELO MYSTIQUE, ZIRCON and PROCEEDACCORDINGLY. That's the hi-five.
Other form fancies on the card are SILVER JOY in the 1st race, SHOPPING BACK in the 2nd, SPECIAL ENVOY in the 4th, COLONY BELLE over SILVER WEDDING and MAXX TRAXX in the 6th, THE RHYTHM DOCTOR over BOCCADOR in the 8th and straight specialist MOA CHIEH over WILD TRAVELER and TRAFALGAR in the 11th.
