TURBULENCE, one of the two winners for jockey Larris Allen, romps the ninth race, the CTL Claiming Series No. 1, over 1200 metres at Caymanas last Saturday. Offering odds of 2-1, TURBULENCE is trained by Winchester McIntosh.
-Ian Allen photo
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
TWO TROPHIES are at stake at Caymanas Park today, as the first leg of the two-day Emancipation weekend racing carnival gets under way with a well supported 10-race programme. Post time is 12:30 p.m.
The co-features are the Eddie Black Memorial Cup over 600 metres straight for native and imported two-year-olds, and the Drumbeat Trophy ($140,000 claiming) to be contested by 13 starters over the straight five course.
Eight youngsters have been declared for the Eddie Black Memorial Cup, five of whom will be racing for the first time. The three with racing experience are the American colt CLOCK WORK, Canadian-bred FIWI EMBLEM and the local bred filly PAT-ANN ROSE who, from all indications, is not ready to do herself justice.
FIWI EMBLEM finished fourth behind PLATINUM GLORY and CLOCK WORK on his debut over 800 metres straight on June 26 and still does not appear as forward as CLOCK WORK.
From the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, CLOCK WORK showed good speed when going down fighting on June 26. He was beaten a nose by the Charles Hussey-ridden PLATINUM GLORY over 800 metres straight after both were engaged in a stirring last furlong duel.
Now better for the experience and moving well at exercise in preparation for today's encounter, CLOCK WORK with Hussey now slated will not go down easily.
Still, he can expect stiff opposition from two well-advanced newcomers QUIET STRENGTH to be ridden by leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths for leading trainer Philip Feanny and SENOR GATOR with two-time champion jockey Joe Buchanan riding for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes.
Both American bred colts have worked nicely and either can impact on the outcome, especially QUIET STRENGTH, a well-conformed chestnut son of Pioneering-Sarita Sarita. It promises to be a close contest, but the experience of CLOCK WORK should prove a decisive factor in the outcome.
A large and competitive field has been declared for the Drumbeat Trophy and this also promises keen competition.
AWESOME MINISTER
I like the look of the one-time course specialist AWESOME MINISTER (Trevor Simpson up) who despite failing to win in seven starts this season and coming down sharply on the claiming ladder in the process, has looked more upbeat at exercise in preparation for this trophy and should win from DRAMATICS, GO ON GO ON and CHUCKY.
Other firm fancies on the card are the unbeaten QUIET GIANT over CORDITE in the second race over 1400 metres, MOST WANTED to stave off old rivals REGGAE RULES and TOBAGO in the fifth over the circular nine course, CAPTAIN BONE to atone for his close fifth in the recent RJR Classic by winning the ninth race at the expense of LADY KAYLA and fleet-footed HERECOMESTHEJUDGE over STRIKING LIGHTNING and VALID REASON in the closing straight five race.
