Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
WINNING MESSAGE, ridden by Clive Lynch, sprints away from a weakening ROBIN'S BAY to land Tuesday's 1100-metre sixth race at Caymanas Park.

Ainsley Walters, Freelance Reporter

CHAMPION jockey Omar Walker started his reign without a victory on New Year's Day but looks set to sparkle this afternoon with a number of good rides, including UGOTTABELIEVE in the 1200-metre Colin Melhado Memorial Cup for the $260,000 claiming group.

The six-year-old mare improved significantly at the back-end of last season, showing good speed to beat $170,000 and $210,000 claimers in back-to-back races.

Stepped up in class last month among $260,000 runners, UGOTTABELIEVE narrowly failed to tag POWERFUL BELLE at 1000 metres straight and was caught inside the final half-furlong at 1200 metres on her next outing.

Trainer Steadman Curtis has summoned Walker to slip two kilos from an outside draw tomorrow after watching his runner battle YAMASHITA'S GOLD before weakening into fourth place behind eventual winner POWER CRACKER.

Easy run

With no matching speed to go with UGOTTABELIEVE this time around, Walker, who won aboard her at the distance on a $170,000 tag in October, should have the mare relaxed on the lead.

Down in class MILLION DOLLARBABY has some speed but has a tough task chasing from an inside draw with near topweight of 55.0 kilos, against UGOTTABELIEVE out wide with 50.0.

Splits set by UGOTTABELIEVE last time out, 23.3, 35.0, 47.1 and 1:00.0 for five furlongs, indicate she should get away from rivals down the backstretch.

COCK ROBIN ran on willingly for third behind REGAL SERENADE over 1300 metres on December 12 and was promoted to second after being hindered by MILLION DOLLARBABY a half-furlong out.

Tough to get closer

However, the five-year-old horse was outsped by MILLION DOLLARBABY for the greater part of that race and will find it tough to get closer going a half-furlong shorter, especially after picking up four kilos off that run.

PLEASURE CRUISE, another down in class runner, ran his third race in 10 days on January 1 and appeared a bit jaded in finishing nine and a quarter-length fourth behind JACK BE GOOD, never gaining, too poor an effort to warrant confidence.

UGOTTABELIEVE might be suspect at the distance against horses dropping from a class higher but Walker has the right hands for the job, soft down the backstretch and powerful up the lane where he will have to be caught.

Crucial point

Anthony Ferguson's super-fit CRUCIAL POINT lost narrowly in driving finishes against formidable rivals in his last two races and should now go one better in the 1200-metre fourth event for Overnight Allowance runners.

Claimed from Wayne DaCosta on November 17, CRUCIAL POINT lost grudgingly to DR SOCRATES on December 15. DR SOCRATES returned to frank the form in the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup, losing by a short head to top Grade I campaigner DISTINCTLY IRISH.

CRUCIAL POINT also went down in a driving finish at 1000 metres straight on Boxing Day, losing by a head to course specialist, BULLET TRAIN, allowing the speedster 1.5 kilo.

Trevor Simpson can be depended on for a sharp break and with CRUCIAL POINT bang in form he will be a tough horse to beat.

Recent winner SUMMER WIND is up in class and should be outsprinted as he tends to prefer an easier pace. PASSA PASSA continues to work well but does not like to be rushed off her legs whereas the other DaCosta runner in the event, SKYWAY EXPRESS, has not looked too sharp at exercise.