Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Simpson ... resumes riding today.
THE FOURTH race in the CTL Claiming Series ($170,000 and less) over 1600 metres is today's feature at Caymanas Park, this attracting a competitive field of 10. Included in the line-up are the recent winners SILVER WEDDING, SAID I SAID I, PROCEEDACCORDINGLY and LONG LONG JOURNEY who scored easily over the straight five course on Saturday when administered Lasix for the first time.
Lasix obviously had the desired effect on LONG LONG JOURNEY and although stepping up to a mile, will not be inconvenienced by the longer distance and can take a hand in the outcome.
NARROWLY BEATEN
SAID I SAID I failed in his bid for the hat-trick on April 6 when narrowly beaten by HOOKEDONJAZZ over 1500 metres on a $170,00 tag and has been holding his form quite well.
Prior to his last run, SAID I SAID I won back-to-back races over 1400 metres and returning on the convenient mark of 53kg and useful apprentice Kerry-Gayle Robinson aboard, will only go down fighting.
The grey SILVER WEDDING steps up in class in quest of his third consecutive win and judging from the effortless manner in which he won his last two races, the task at hand is by no means beyond him in this tougher spot.
SMART TIME
Still, the one best equipped to pull it off must be the Lawrence Freemantle-trained PROCEEDACCORDINGLY, who won by the astonishing margin of 22 lengths from LADY SHALIMAR over 1200 metres on April 9, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:14.0 on a $150,000 tag.
On the strength of that performance, PROCEEDACCORDINGLY was highly fancied to win on a $210,000 tag over 1400 metres last Saturday. However, after turning for home a close-up second, he gradually faded into fifth place behind repeat winner WATERS OF MERRIBAH.
Now back among his peers, PROCEEDACCORDINGLY can definitely resume winning ways, despite the fact that he is down to be ridden by the veteran jockey Mikey Dixon, who has not ridden a winner in many years.
Back in action well drawn on the outside, PROCEEDACCORDINGLY should race in touch on the bank top before starting his winning run from the 600-metre point. He is ideally suited to a mile and has beaten better in the not-too-distant past.
Bearing in mind the distance, SAID I SAID I should make a bold bid from in front, while LONG LONG JOURNEY, BUTCHER MAN and JIG YOUNG (regaining form) are at home over the distance and will not be far away at the end.
FIRM FANCIES
BUTCHER MAN is down to be ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson who returns from a three-day suspension.
Other firm fancies on the card are RED BOOTLACES to catch COZY PROSPECTOR in the first race over 1200 metres, the well advanced debutante UNCLE D & ME in the fourth race for maiden three-year-olds, DIESEL to make it three in a row in the 6th, QUIZAS ORO to stave off DUST ROCK in the 7th and FROMRUSSISIAWITHLOVE to catch SIR ABBAS MANGAL and CHESAPEAKE BAY in the 9th and final.
