By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
HANDING OVER THE TROPHIES: Xavier Chin (third right), CEO of Track Price Plus Limited, hands over the Guineas trophies to CTL's executive manager for racing, Millicent Lynch at Tuesday's launching of the season's first classics in the North Lounge at Caymanas Park. Looking on from left are Fabian Brown, a director of the St. Patrick's Foundation; CTL's racing secretary Denzil Miiller Jr; Ruby Martin, chairman of the Maxfield Park Children's Home; Cedric McDonald, a director of Maxfield Park and Reginald Allen, representing Carib-Tel.
TOMORROW's Racing Pools game offers no carryover but despite this, there is still good money to be won by those embracing lady luck.
The 'Star at the Park II" programme, featuring the second running of the $365,000 Star Trophy race over 1820 metres, gets underway with a $150,000 - $130,000) claiming race over 1500 metres which looks tailored for the in-form PALMETTO XPRESS.
Claimed out of his last race by trainer Donovan Bruce, PALMETTO XPRESS won easily in fast time over the distance on March 5 only to be touched off by SIR KISSON LAL in a tremendous head bob over 1400 metres last Saturday.
Although reporting in a slightly tougher spot, the 7-y-o son of Schism has nothing to fear from the present opposition and now reunited with his winning rider, champion jockey Trevor Simpson, should resume winning ways at the expense of DE BARREL COME (fit) and DOCTOR ON CALL (usually runs best when fresh) in a field of six.
Next on the programme is a $100,000 claming race over 1100 metres in which the down in class PROUDEST NATIVE looks the right choice, despite the presence of consistent LOVE MACHINE and recent winner BALLAFIRE, both fit enough to fight.
True, PROUDEST NATIVE left us with unimpressive form on January 31 when finishing 7 1/2 lengths seventh to BIG BELLY SAM over this trip. Providing he is alert at the start, however, PROUDEST NATIVE (down in grade) should be able to stave off LOVE MACHINE, his obvious danger in the seven-strong field.
SIR ASHOK AKBAR, narrowly beaten by DRAMATICS over the straight last Saturday, is tipped to go one better in the third race for five-year-olds and up, again over the straight. He has most to fear from COUNTESS GIM in the seven-horse field.
Race four over a mile for $120,000 - $105,000 claimers, should see the front running FOREST FRESH, TIME AND AGAIN, CHAMBO KOO and BUTCHER MAN in contention where it matters.
FOREST FRESH enjoys bowling along merrily in front and looking at the composition of the field, is sure to carry them into the straight. Whether he can stave off the trio of BUTCHER MAN, TIME AND AGAIN and the late kicking CHAMBA KOO is left to be seen, but TIME AND AGAIN, in particular, should appreciate the drop in class after finishing five lengths fourth (closing) to GUARDIAN ANGEL over 1400 metres recently, and thus gets the vote.
Bold front runner FRANCESCA'S DREAM represents the lone speed in the fifth race for the Tewfic Ziadie Memorial Cup and should stave off the late kicking SEAMASTER in deep stretch, while it should be the consistent MOLTEN LAVE (knocking at the door) in the sixth for maiden three-year-olds, this for the Hottie Hottie Plaque.
Moving to the day's circular nine feature for the Star Trophy (overnight allowance), this race promises keen competition among the 11 starters and similar to last year when PATAS DE FUEGO win in a bang up finish, a similar outcome is not far-fetched.
Leading lights are BLACK THATCH under champion jockey Trevor Simpson, stable-companion GLORIOUS STAR, MILLENIUM PRINCESS, stable-companion EMPERADOR and of course, the late kicking SIR ROMEL who has won his last two races over this trip.
While the winner will more than likely emerge from the abovementioned group, it is not beyond SHAHID, PROMINENT or the stretch running RAPIDASH (loves distance) to provide the upset.
Vastly improved SIR ROMEL ran on strongly to catch and beat GLORIOUS STAR by a length when last venturing over the distance and with the race expected to be a truly run, the pace could well come back to the four-year-old son of Secret Man.
EMPERADOR, trained by Anthony "Baba" Nunes who posted PATAS DE FUEGO to win last year's inaugural running, looks nicely in at the weights and along with stablemate MILLENIUM PRINCESS will be in the thick of things throughout.
While I envisage a closely contested race, my idea of the winner is BLACK THATCH (working well, visor on) who is coming off a recent win over 1500 metres in good time. This 4-y-o filly had the subsequent triple crown winner SIMPLY MAGIC fully extended to win the season's final classic (St. Leger) over 2000 metres in July of last year and back in action from the convenient mark of 51.5kg, she will not go down easily.
