Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
MIDWEEK RACING resumes at Caymanas Park today with a well-supported 11-race programme featuring the $460,000-$410,000 claiming race for the City of Kingston Centenary Cup over 1600 metres.
Despite a small field of six, the race promises keen competition among the quartet of SATISFIER, UNCLE D & ME, I AM PAID FOR and the recent winner REGGAE RUCKUS who is still at home over the longer distance.
SATISFIER, who returns under new management, looked his old self when strolling home (made all) by 5 3/4 lengths from subsequent winner AITCHEMESBEAGLE over 1400 metres in the fairly good time of 1:26.1 on March 8 and was promptly claimed for $460,000 by trainer Ryan Darby on behalf of O'Shaun Connection.
From all indications, Darby still has SATISFIER in good nick and now gunning for the hat-trick is not too high in the scales with 56kg to win again, especially with title-chasing jockey Dane Nelson now taking the ride.
Occasion demand
Although making all when last at the races, SATISFIER can come from behind if the occasion demands.
True, he will have the speed of recent winner UNCLE D & ME under champion jockey Omar Walker and REGGAE RUCKUS to contend with. But given a patient ride by Nelson, the nine-year-old son of The Medic-Midnight Angel can definitely get the job done. If the three front-running horses - UNDER D & ME, REGGAE RUCKUS and SATISFIER - take on each other from early, they could play into the hands of the late-kicking I AM PAID FOR, who hails from the in-form stables of Lawrence Freemantle.
I AM PAID FOR is actually down in class to vie for this trophy after finishing 11 lengths eighth to CHIPONYOURSHOULDER over 1,800 metres in overnight allowance company on April 5. He will appreciate the drop in class and this race could well run to suit his powerful come-from-behind style.
Easy race
Still, SATISFIER won too easily from a good horse like AIT-CHEMESBEAGLE on last and despite the sound claims of I AM PAID FOR (Clive Lynch up) and UNCLE D & ME, who was a post-to-post winner over the distance on January 12, ought to be followed.Other firm fancies on the card are GOOD CITIZEN to win the opening race for three-year-olds following his close second to SUPER DAVE on March 8; SUNSHINE OFMYLIFE (working well) to open her account in the fourth, AGUILA to do likewise in the sixth, down in class MEDICAL ACCOUNT in the eighth and DR. SOCRATES, now eased in the weights, to rebound at the expense of MY TRAIN in the 10th for overnight allowance horses.
