Veteran jockey Ian Spence guides SHIVOYNE to victory on Boxing Day last year. SHIVOYNE is a top fancy for today's feature, the Ash Wednesday Trophy. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

THE ASH Wednesday Trophy overnight allowance race over 1300 metres takes the spotlight on today's holiday programme at Caymanas Park which features 11 races.

Sponsored by Super People Janitorial Services, the race has attracted 10 starters and, from all indications, should be keenly contested as there is much good form present.

Among the starters is the vastly improved SHIVOYNE who is coming off an easy win in restricted company over 1500 metres on February 10.

Although stepping up from restricted to overnight allowance company, the late kicking 4-y-o gelding from the stables of Burt Tomlinson has little to fear.

Prior to winning last time, SHIVOYNE was an unlucky loser by a neck to NUMERO UNO over 1400 metres in overnight company, a race he would surely have won had he not been hindered on the inside rails a furlong out when his ground was taken.

Favourite rider

With lots of speed present today, they could well play into the hands of SHIVOYNE, who is not too high in the handicaps with 56.0kg and favourite rider Ian Spence aboard to win again.

SHIVOYNE can expect stiff opposition from a number of horses including KYSHA BABY, CALABASH BAY, COMIN TRUE, PASSA PASSA and MAJOR MAYER who left us on a winning note in October of last year, but has trained well in preparation for this trophy and is coming to run, preferably from in front.

Trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, who won the race last year with the 13-1 outsider DON LIMPIO, holds a strong hand with the native bred four-year-old gelding CALABASH BAY and the American colt COMIN TRUE, both having trained well in preparation for the race.

Preference is for CALABASH BAY who was just below classic standard last season, having finished fifth in the Digicel Derby after racing prominently into the straight.

The bay gelding by Alisios out of Don't Call Us has run some good races in defeat, notably his blanket finish third to NUMERO uNO and SHIVOYNE over 1400 metres on January 13 and his close second to UNKNOWN VARIABLE over the straight on Boxing Day.

Renews rivalry

CALABASH BAY renews rivalry with SHIVOYNE on 4kg better terms and with the trip still very much to his liking, is confidently expected to fight out the finish with five-time champion Trevor Simpson now taking the ride.

Also expected to go close are the American bred 5-y-o gelding PASSA PASSA who will love the distance after his good third to MEDICAL REPORT in the recent St. Catherine Cup over 1100 metres, and the Gary Subratie-trained filly, KYSHA BABY, who will be better for a recent pipeopener behind EXPLOSIVE PEAK.

Other firm fancies on the card are the well-forward debutante IMPERIALIST to upstage SASSY SUSAN in the second race, FABULOUS P to repeat in the fourth, ASTRO CRUNCH in the fifth, KING AL in the seventh and LIGHT MY FIRE in the eighth.