Colin Hamilton/Freelance Pphotographer
QUEEN ALIYA, one of two winners for jockey Dane Nelson, wins the sixth race over 1200 metres for maiden three-year-old fillies at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. She was a 5-2 chance.

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

As many as four trophy races are on at Caymanas Park today, chief among them, the William Read Memorial Trophy over 1300 metres for overnight allowance horses.

In addition, the nine-race programme will facilitate the two-year-old maiden condition race for the Richard Ashenheim Cup over 1500 metres, the three-year-old and up restricted allowance II for the Titania Trophy over 1100 metres (non winners of two) and the closing race for the Eggie Sutherland Memorial Cup to be contested by eleven $170,000 conditional claimers over 2000 metres.

The William Reid Memorial has attracted seven starters, including ante-post favourite THUNDER SQUAD who had no luck in running on November 10 over 1500 metres.

False start

Racing for the first time in almost nine months, THUNDER SQUAD finished down the track behind JACK SPARROW, but had a valid excuse. His rider, Dane Nelson, thinking it was a false start, eased up on his mount in the early stages and was left in last position as a result. THUNDER SQUAD never recovered.

Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta has taken the five-year-old bay gelding to task at exercise since and none will report fitter.

On the morning of Sunday, December 2, THUNDER SQUAD galloped 5-1/2 furlongs in a smart 1:06.0, the last five furlongs in 59.4. Then, last Sunday, he was caught in another 5-1/2-furlong spin in 1:06.4 by a minute flat.

Back in action from the convenient mark of 53.0kg and his preparation complete, THUNDER SQUAD will not go down easily with in-form Nelson again in the saddle.

Although sparingly raced, the son of Pangur Ban-Setuporgetup has the back class to put away the front running DANCING SAM over this trip. I am expecting DANCING SAM to lead comfortably into the straight, but THUNDER SQUAD will not be far off and should gain the ascendancy in the last furlong.

Seven maiden two-year-olds are also slated to contest the Richard Ashenheim Cup and here it should come down to a straight fight between MY THUNDER and IT IS I, who has finished second in his last two races.

Showed promise

The Anthony Ferguson-trained MY THUNDER showed promise on his recent debut when finishing 7-1/2 lengths second to REGAL SELECTION in the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup over 1400 metres and having been administered Lasix and working nicely as well, gets the nod over IT IS I. Smart apprentice André Martin has the ride.

Other firm fancies on the card are NUMERO UNO to turn the tables on recent conqueror BABY RENéE in the fourth race, speedy MELINDAGATA to make all at the expense of JET SKI D'OR and VERITY in the second over the straight five course, recent winner MISS PAIGE to hold RED I at bay in the seventh and THANKSWITHASMILE to go one better in the Titania Trophy where RIGGED TO WIN looks the principal danger.