Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
FIRST IN THE SAND (outside) is brought with a storming stretch run by Andrew Ramgeet to win the $1.5 million MegaFone Mile for imported horses in a driving finish from ALPHA LUPA (out of pic) and PASSA PASSA (right) at Caymanas Park last Saturday. The Gary Subratie-trained 4-y-o filly won at odds of 5-1.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
The Royal Lancaster Trophy, to be contested by maiden and untried two-year-olds over the round five course, is the feature event at Caymanas Park today.
Post time is 11:30 a.m. and 12 races are scheduled.
Among the seven starters for the feature event are three newcomers, including the well-forward EL PASO CITY who could be a fitting winner of this particular race, seeing that he is owned by Ruth Hussey whose colours were carried to victory on numerous occasions by ROYAL LANCASTER in whose honour the race is run.
ROYAL LANCASTER was unbeaten in six races as a two-year-old in 1985 when ridden exclusively by Emilio 'Bimbo' Rodriquez for trainer Norman Palmer. The grey colt was voted the champion two-year-old that year. So much for history.
Debutante
The race will more than likely come down to the quartet of EL PASO CITY with Charles Hussey aboard, MACHISMO, the mount of Canadian-based-Jamaican jockey Kirk Johnson, LEONIDAS with apprentice Javour Simpson aboard and the debutante GAMBOA, with new riding sensation Omar Walker up.
The Richard Azan owned and trained GAMBOA is a nice-looking roan colt by He'stherealthing out of Princess Naevus, which makes him a half brother to the useful MINISTEROFFINANCE. He has looked fairly advanced and should give a good account of himself.
The winner, however, will more than like come from the three top contenders - LEONIDAS who ran an improved race (close third) to stable companion THE GREY DOCTOR over 1200 metres when having his second outing on October 31, MACHISMO who showed promise on his debut behind GOOD SENSE on September 8 and, of course, EL PASO CITY from the stables of Percy Hussey.
Of the three, the one I like best is MACHISMO, who has looked vastly improved at exercise since that initial appearance.
Caught the eye
Trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes for Barbadian owner Elias Haloute, the attractive bay colt by Footloose II out of Lady Pakeezah caught the eye at exercise on Sunday morning when galloping five furlongs in a brisk 1.01.1. And prior to that he breezed three furlongs in 34.4.
With his preparation complete and the visor now removed, MACHISMO, who has good speed, gets the nod over EL PASO CITY, who is coming to run.
Other firm fancies on the card are the late-kicking MAY FLOWER to catch the free-running TRUE HONOUR in the second for maiden three-year-olds over 1600 metres, MARKET BRIDLE (knocking at the door) to upstage RAZZ BUGG in the third over 1400 metres, JET SKIER to outfinish LA'S DANCER, CHIPONYOURSHOULDER and MARK TO MARKET in the knotty-looking sixth race over 1400 metres, consistent SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS to go one better in the 10th and SKYWAY EXPRESS to catch the front running UNKNOWN VARIABLE in the 11th for overnight allowance horses.
