By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE 3-Y-O and up open allowance over 1200 metres for the Melvin 'Babu' Chin Memorial Trophy is today's feature at Caymanas Park.
In addition to the feature, run in memory of the late champion owner (1975) who was a co-founder of Track Price Plus Limited, the 10-race programme will facilitate a Celebrity Walkstackle over 200 metres straight in aid of the Kidney Support Foundation of Jamaica and simulcasting of the 10 Breeders' Cup races from Santa Anita in California for betting purposes.
Significantly, the walkstacle which has attracted as many as 23 entries, including last year's winner Usain Bolt (the world junior 200 metres champion) will not only prompt the usual win betting, but place and quinela betting this time around. In the event of the starters exceeding the maximum 16, number 16 and over will be coupled as the field.
Meanwhile, the Melvin 'Babu' Chin Memorial Trophy has attracted six starters but despite the small field, the race promises keen competition among INSATIABLE, CAPTAIN BLIGH, MILLENIUM PRINCESS and not least, ZULU PRINCESS who has won three of her past four races.
In-form trainer Anthony 'Babu' Nunes holds a fairly strong hand with the consistent CAPTAIN BLIGH under bang-in-form Shane Ellis and the imported filly MILLENIUM PRINCESS with bustling lightweight Robert Reid in the saddle.
Of the two, CAPTAIN BLIGH has more appeal as he has looked more sharper in recent exercise spins together. Significantly, the consistent 4-y-o bay gelding by Schism out of Hnauska is prepping for the November 8 Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint Championship over the distance, a race in which he finished second to I'MSATISFIED last year.
CAPTAIN BLIGH not only runs from the convenient mark of 52kg but has looked so well in his preparation that he is confidently expected to fight out the finish.
Both INSATIABLE and ZULU PRINCESS have between them won 11 races this season and neither can be taken lightly with the trip just perfect. The Richie Todd-trained INSATIABLE ran SPIRIT OF JAMAICA to a half a length in the round five President's Cup when last raced in 'A1' company on June 28 and despite having suffered a setback in training during the interim, all seems right with him (working well) at present. Now dropped in class, he can definitely resume winning ways, despite top weight of 57kg.
The one I like best, however, is ZULU PRINCESS who has gone from strength to strength in recent months under the guidance of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.
The speedy 4-y-o filly by Prime Rate Powers out of Zuki Princess beat a good field over 1400 metres in the smart time of 1:25.1 when last raced on October 8 and before that chased home stable companion LIL' COUNTRY BOY by two lengths in a fast run 1200-metre race (1:11.4).
Prior to that losing effort, ZULU PRINCESS reeled off back-to-back wins over 1200 metres and 1300 metres and all factors considered, will not go down easily from her convenient mark of 55kg. Leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths, who won with her on August 20, is reunited with her for this race in the absence of champion jockey Trevor Simpson on a three-day suspension.
Other firm fancies are SUPERHEAT to go one better in the first race, DOCTOR ON CALL over SEEMELATER and GUARDIAN ANGEL in the knotty second race, back to form NEFTENGA to stave off CRIMSON MAGIC in the fifth, RUNDUMPLINRUN to catch old rival SIREN and CRUCIAL TIMES in the seventh and MY MY over MISS STRAWBERRY and JEHAN in the closing race for maiden three-year-olds.
