Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
The 16-1 outsider Abounding Grace, one of two winners for jockey Wesley Henry, romps the eighth race for native-bred three-year-old fillies over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday. She is owned by Paul A. Chen and trained by Wayne DaCosta. Henry's other winner was Explosive Peak. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SEVEN THREE-YEAR-OLDS are slated to contest today's Caymanas Park feature for the Mark Twain Trophy over 1600 metres, among them the native bred three-year-old filly VICTORIA and her American counterpart ALPHA LUPA.
Both are top contenders for the major share of the $375,000 purse and from all indications it will be pretty close.
Significantly, VICTORIA is down to be ridden by leading jockey Trevor Simpson for champion trainer Philip Feanny, and ALPHA LUPA by title-chasing jockey Brian Harding for in-form trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes. Both jockeys are in a sizzling duel for championship honours.
Completing the field are the recent winners I AM PAID FOR and DON'T STAY NAKED, along with HIGH GRADE, GUIDING LIGHT and the American- bred colt CANDY UPSTAIRS, all useful types.
However, none of the native bred three-year-olds have shown the class of VICTORIA, who earlier this season finished second in both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks.
I expect her to have their measure and also account for CANDY UPSTAIRS who obviously needs a bit more time.
The grey ALPHA LUPA has worked really well in preparation for this race after finishing second on her only two starts.
She would definitely have won on her debut over 1200 metres on August 24, but walked out of the starting gate and in the end failed by a neck to catch MISS CHURCHILL.
Next time out she was slowly into stride and looked somewhat one-paced in the straight when chasing home MORGAN'S RENEGADE over the same trip.
Still, she has looked improved at exercise and given the easier pace of this race, will only go down fighting from her convenient mark of 53.0kg.
VICTORIA, however, is preferred over this trip, especially after that eye-catching pipe opener last Wednesday when chasing home THUNDER SQUAD in a fast-run 1100-metre race.
The chestnut filly by Alisios out of Maracaibo should welcome the longer distance and now that much sharper and pretty light with 51.0kg as well, should outfinish ALPHA LUPA in deep stretch.
Other firm fancies on the card are the unbeaten TIME OF MY LIFE to make it three in a row in the first race over the straight five course, REJECT to stave off WIMBLEDON in the second race, the well forward two-year-old debutante RAMPAGE in the third, SIR KISSON LAL in the sixth, STRAIGHTOTHEPOINT over JEDI ROCKET in the eight and TOO HOT TO TROT to hold AMANDA'S GOLD at bay in the ninth.
