Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
HAIL THE GENIUS, ridden by Phillip Clunis, moves away from SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS (outside) and TRUE HONOUR to win the sixth race over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. Owned by Raphael Gordon and trained by Gary Subratie. HAIL THE GENIUS won at 9-1.

Orville Clarke, Freelance Reporter

Unlike last Saturday when three trophy races were run, today's 10-race programme at Caymanas Park offers only one - the annual renewal of the Tewfic Ziadie Memorial Cup over the circular nine course for $380,000-$330,000 claimers.

Only seven have been declared but despite the small field, it should prove an interesting contest.

Wednesday's scorer HEZA RANKING and the consistent LATIN KING will no doubt carry the bulk of the betting, but there should be good support for TOUCHDOWN and SIR ROMEL, despite the fact he has not run a decent race in ages.

Over the years, SIR ROMEL has lost his form for longer periods that most horses. Yet, this nine-year-old horse by Secret Man out of Reverberation has the capa-city to turn it around without prior notice. Now dropped in class, I for one would not be surprised to see him in contention at the end.

Who will take it?

TOUCHDOWN, who was recently claimed by in-form trainer Anthony Ferguson, is also capable of taking home this trophy, although yet to win going this far. He notched his last win over 1600 metres on December 1, holding on by a head from LATIN KING, who renews rivalry on better terms today and should turn the tables.

LATIN KING is yet to run a bad race since that near miss, having scored once from five starts. The five-year-old horse from the stables of Ryan Darby won the Altamont V. Armond Memorial Cup over 2000 metres in a driving finish from CHINA TOWN on January 12, this on a $315,000 claiming tag and subsequently finished second to out-of-class UNLEADED over this trip on January 30. He was also second to SATISFIER in a fast-run one-mile race on February 16.

While the Richie Todd-trained HEZA RANKING looked fit and well on Wednesday when staving off NAVAJOJOE over 1500 metres on a $315,000 tag, the eight-year-old son of Alisios - Lady Ranking was beaten by LATIN KING when they last met in the Alty Armond Memorial Cup, finishing four lengths fifth were racing close up to the last furlong.

It will more than likely come down to these two on the basis of form. But LATIN KING, now down in class with a mere 48.0kg and in-form apprentice Jason Simpson aboard, should just have the measure of the free running HEZA RANKING, who will only go down fighting with former champion Trevor Simpson in the saddle.

Other firm fancies on the card are EVANDER to romp the first for three-year-olds, CHINA TOWN ahead of SHAHID in the second, SKYWAY EXPRESS to go one better in the fifth, LADY INDIRA to do likewise in the sixth and CLOCKWORK, now dropped in class, to make all in the 10th.