Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Hookedonjazz is brought with a well-timed run on the outside by jockey Paul Francis to beat his stable companion Jack Sparrow (centre) with Wesley Henry aboard, in the seventh race over the circular nine course at Caymanas Park on Saturday. Blow Wind Blow (against the rails) with Howard Newell astride finished a close-up third. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE MILLION-dollar Hi-Pro Governor-General's Stakes over 2000 metres takes centrestage on today's Heroes Day holiday card at Caymanas Park.
Post time is noon and 11 races are scheduled to be run.
Significantly, the G-G Stakes, confined to three-year-olds and up, is being sponsored for the first time by Hi-Pro Feeds under its premier brand, Hi-Pro Stables Choice Feeds.
The company are also sponsors of the inaugural Hi-Pro Ace Trophy over 1300 metres for maiden and untried native bred two-year-olds with a purse of $500,000.
This race has attracted 10 youngsters, including the well-forward debutante WAR LEGEND along with RAMPAGE, MAKING DREAMS and OSAKA, all of whom showed promise in recent races.
A tall, far-striding colt by Natural Selection out of Crama, WAR LEGEND from the stables of veteran trainer Noel Ennevor has been working well for some time and looks above average.
He caught eye at exercise on Saturday, October 1 when galloping five furlongs on the round course in 1:02.0, then the following Saturday galloped five furlongs from the gates in 1:00.1 easily behind a half-mile split of 46.2. And last Wednesday in the company of stable companion CHRISTMAS GIFT, WAR LEGEND galloped seven furlongs in 1:33.0, looking very relaxed in the process. He could be something special.
By virtue of his glowing exercise reports, WAR LEGEND, with in-form Paul 'Country' Francis aboard, should win from the Philip Feanny-trained OSAKA, who was noted making good late headway on her recent debut to finish 3-1/2 lengths fifth to DEVIL'S WOMAN in the round five Winnie Anglin Memorial Cup.
EXPERIENCE
The bay filly by Royal Minister out of Irie will have gained from the experience and should make a race of it with champion jockey Trevor Simpson now taking the ride, Feanny should have better luck with his 'big horse' DISTINCTLY IRISH in the G-G Stakes, to be contested by only five starters.
DISTINCTLY IRISH, who represents the class horse of the field, will be gunning to win this prestigious grade one race for the second consecutive year.
While he faces what could well be his stiffest test to date against a trio of live contenders in the 2003 Superstakes winner PITTACUS, this year's Derby and St. Leger winner MIRACLE MAN and also the front running American filly FORMALLY GOLD, who will have to be caught, going two turns DISTINCTLY IRISH simply has no peers.
With leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths in the saddle, the 4-y-o bay gelding by Irish Quest out of the 1990 Guineas and Derby winner Distinctly Native should rebound from his recent defeat to FORMALLY GOLD in the one-mile run for the L.R. 'Bob' Mayall Memorial Cup, winning from the in-form PITTACUS under leading jockey Brian Harding.
I am expecting him to race just off the early pace set by the fleet-footed FORMALLY GOLD with PITTACUS and MIRACLE MAN giving chase, before moving up sharply approaching the final bend. He should go into overdrive approaching the distance and win from PITTACUS and the lightly weighted MIRACLE MAN.
Other firm fancies on the card are SI MI TRIAL to make all in the 3rd race, MY PLEASURE in the 4th, LOCHNESS DRAGON in the 5th, JACK'S CHILD over PROPOINT in the 8th and DR. R.S.F. to lead home OLYMPIC STAR in the 11th and final.
