Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
NATURAL DESIRE, one of three winners for title chasing jockey Trevor Simpson last Saturday, moves away from long-time leader DIESEL #right), with Oral Bennett aboard, to win the Jockey Club Stakes feature event over 1400 metres for Overnight Allowance horses at Caymanas Park. NATURAL DESIRE was the 3-5 favourite.- photo by Colin Hamilton/Freelance photographer
Two trophies are at stake on today's Grooms' Association Day 10-race programme at Caymanas Park, including the $315,000-$285,000 claiming race for the Grooms' Association of Jamaica Trophy over the straight five course.
Co-feature on the card is the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race for the Merry Deal Cup, again over the straight.
Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta holds a strong hand in both races. He saddles the down-in-class BADJEROS ROSE in the eighth race for the Grooms' Association Trophy; and the highly fancied pair of BULLET TRAIN and SKYWAY EXPRESS in the knotty looking Merry Deal Cup, where horses such as ROMEZ, DIESEL, RIO INFINITO and recent winner MAGDALA should ensure a highly competitive race in a field of nine.
The Grooms' Association Trophy should see BADJEROS ROSE, FIRE D TRAINER, TOUCHDOWN and the recent winner BABY RENEE in contention where it matters.
race claims
FIRE D TRAINER, who was claimed for $360,000 by trainer Dennis Lee from 14-time champion Philip Feanny when unplaced behind CRUCIAL POINT on September 29, is down to be ridden by leading rider, apprentice Omar Walker, and with little to fear from the present opposition, can definitely rebound for her new trainer.
The four-year-old filly notched her last win over the straight on July 25 when getting up in the nick of time to catch HIGH ROLLER and IMPERIALIST in non winners of four. She's not only down in class to vie for this trophy but back over the straight as well.
BABY RENEE held off the highly fancied TOUCHDOWN over 1300 metres last Saturday at this level in a 13-1 upset an this represents a tougher assignment, could bring fitness into play and make a brave bid, so too TOUCHDOWN, who now has the services of title-chasing jockey Trevor Simpson.
A recent winner, TOUCHDOWN is no chicken over the straight and is coming to run.
Despite the strong claims of FIRE D TRAINER in particular, the one best equipped to take home this trophy must be BADJEROS ROSE, who was far from disgraced behind TRIPLE ACCOUNT over the course on Wednesday, this on a $380,000 claiming tag.
outpaced in first 600 metres
Badly drawn on a sloppy surface, BADJEROS ROSE found herself outpaced for the first 600 metres, but made good late headway to finish three lengths fourth, heads on with the third horse NUMERO UNO who beat this level rather con-vincingly over the straight on October 15.
Now better drawn at post position six, BADJEROS ROSE will prove hard to beat from the convenient mark of 54.0kg and stable jockey Dane Nelson aboard.
Prior to Wednesday's race, the Canadian-bred six-year-old mare slammed rivals over the straight at this level in a sub-minute time on September 12 and with her fitness not in doubt, is preferred to FIRE D TRAINER.
Having finished a strong second to the unbeaten filly OUTSTANDING over the straight in the G.A. 'Sarge' Bucknor Memorial Cup some weeks ago, BULLET TRAIN #Nelson up is my choice to win the Merry Deal Cup ahead of DIESEL, SKYWAY EXPRESS and MAGDALA.
I also like JADORE to stave off old rival SEARCHING in the fourth, IT IS I in the sixth for native bred two-year-olds and down in class SEA CRACKERS over RED I and SIMPLY AWESOME in the nightpan.
