By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
In a driving finish, PREMIER SOLUTION under a brilliant ride from apprentice Dane Nelson, powers home from the favourite STRAIGHT SIX (Trevor Simpson), who was subsequently disqualified, and HARLEY BARLEY (Robert Reid) in the third race, over 1200 metres, at Caymanas Park on Saturday. Offering odds of 8-5, PREMIER SOLUTION was one of two winners for trainer Richie Todd on card. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
THE 3-Y-O and up overnight allowance for the Easter Sprint Cup is today's holiday feature at Caymanas Park, the well supported 10-race programme set to start at noon.
As many as twelve starters have been declared and as is the norm with the overnight allowance class, competition should be very keen.
Among the starters is last year's winner THE BARBARIAN (Richie Mitchell), one of three challengers from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta. The others are likely favourite KING AL under champion jockey Trevor Simpson and the outsider PRETTYPRESUMPTUOUS.
With THE BARBARIAN having declined in ability since the middle of last year and PRETTYPRESUMPTUOUS seemingly having it all to do, DaCosta will no doubt pin his hopes on KING AL, who ran a vastly improved race behind COURT CASE over 1200 metres on April 5, when administered the anti-bleeding medication Lasix for the first time.
KING AL, along with the very fit COURT CASE and DR. R.S.F. will more than likely decide the outcome on current form.
ON THE REBOUND
KING AL, now on the rebound, will have a lot of supporters. The 5-y-o bay gelding by Al's River Cat out of Zuki Princess caught the eye at exercise last Monday when galloping 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:07.3. With his preparation complete and connections going for stable jockey "Slicer" Simpson, KING AL who runs on Lasix once again, can pay a long overdue visit to the winners' enclosure.
COURT CASE from the stables of eight-time champion trainer Kenneth Mattis showed good battling qualities when staving off subsequent winner ROYAL RUN by a length and a half over 1200 metres with KING AL another half length away third.
COURT CASE renews rivalry with KING AL on 3.0kg worse terms and although down to carry topweight of 57.0kg, he will have to be caught.
While having every respect for both COURT CASE and KING AL, the one best equipped to take home this trophy is DR. RSF who has been a model of consistency in recent months.
Trained by Barrington Rambally, the evergreen 7-y-o gelding failed by a short head to beat THE SANDMAN over the straight five course on April 9 in Open Allowance company, but had no luck in running. Badly drawn at post position two, he angled towards mid-track during the first 600 metres but was repeated denied racing room in the middle and had to change course to the inside once again.
Although running on strongly he lost out in a thrilling head bob to the DaCosta-trained THE SANDMAN with Simpson up.
Prior to that on March 28, DR. RSF chased home SPIRIT OF JAMAICA in a fast run open allowance race over 1300 metres, and before that was unlucky when narrowly beaten by THE SANDMAN over the round five course on March 8, a race in which he suffered interference from THE BARBARIAN at the half mile.
A tough competitor, DR. RSF who last won over 1300 metres in January, is fit as hands can make him and with less to do on this occasion, should show his appreciation by taking the Easter Sprint Cup with five-time champion Winston Griffiths aboard.
Other firm fancies on the card are JACK DE PRINCE (has stepped with the best) to put it across fellow speedster KINKOTSU LIU LIU and UNQUESTIONABLE in the 3rd race for three-year-olds, GENERAL VERRAZANO (loves course) to stave off PRIME SUSPECT in the 5th, SANTIAGO (will benefit from Lasix) to catch NOWITSKI and BLACKMOUTH in the 6th, SIG SAUER (proven campaigner, now Lasix) to upstage RESTLESS PEGASUS and recent winner MAN OF STAR in the 7th and ROSE BUD, who failed narrowly on her recent debut, to atone at the expense of TO SIR WITH LOVE and ETERNAL STREAM in the 8th.
