Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
William Chin See (left), chairman of Caymanas Track Limited (CTL), presents the Horse of the Year award to Joseph 'Fudgie' Duany, owner and breeder of MIRACLE MAN, who captured the award for the second consecutive year. Looking on is the gelding's trainer, Allan 'Billy' Williams. Occasion was the 18th annual None Such Horse of the Year awards dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Thursday night. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer.
The second running of the $1 million King's Plate open allowance race over 1500 metres is the feature event on today's well-supported 11-race programme at Caymanas Park, which commences at noon.
Included in a small but competitive field of six is the fleet-footed American bred five-year-old mare EXPLOSIVE PEAK, who won a similar type of race, the million-dollar CTL Imported Stakes over 1400 metres in 2005, and was second to EXCLUSIVE RUNNER in the same race last year.
So EXPLOSIVE PEAK, who won impressively (made all) over the straight five course in overnight allowance company last Saturday, is no stranger to this type of race and although coming back quite heavy with top weight of 57.5kg under competent claiming apprentice Omar Walker, should still make a brave bid from in front.
Extremely fit
Trained by Peter McMaster, EXPLOSIVE PEAK is extremely fit at present and very much at home in open allowance company. She looks the speediest in the line-up and will more than likely set off in front and whatever happens, will have to be caught.
Still, I believe she will fall victim to one of the lightly-weighted horses - SKYWAY EXPRESS - to be ridden by star apprentice Carlton Malcolm, the consistent DIGI N' JIGGY or THUNDER SQUAD, all ideally suited to the distance.
Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta holds a strong hand with the pair of SKYWAY EXPRESS and DIGI N' JIGGY, both in very good nick.
SKYWAY EXPRESS blew away rivals over the round five course in overnight allowance company on January 20 and if anything, will report even fitter for this race.
Blanket finish
The American bred 4-y-o gelding was a fast time winner (1 24.4) over 1400 metres in September of last year. And later that month he went under in a blanket finish to MONEY DANCER and ROYAL RUN in a fairly fast-run (1:32.3) race over this trip.
SKYWAY EXPRESS reports with a mere 48.0kg to contest this race and could prove a cinch, despite the good claims of DIGI N' JIGGY, who finished a close second to MEDICAL REPORT in the St. Catherine Cup open allowance feature over 1100 metres last Saturday and will love this extension.
The Percy Hussey-trained THUNDER SQUAD, has good speed and with only 48.0kg, is coming to run, and of course EXPLOSIVE PEAK.
Trevor Simpson's mount AZULI is also very fit, has good speed and should ensure that EXPLOSIVE PEAK is kept honest up front. But it all comes back to SKYWAY EXPRESS who seems ready to go on from here. He should win from stable-companion DIGI N' JIGGY.
Other firm fancies on the card are CRAYONS TO PERFUME in the 2nd race, BUSTER JACK in the 5th, BLUFF MASTER in the 6th, GOLCONDA in the 7th, SHIVOYNE in the 9th and TUNA SALOONA in the 11th and final.
