Nelson

Overnight allowance horses hold centre stage at Caymanas Park today when 11 of them face the starter in the L.C. McKenzie Memorial Trophy over 1400 metres.

Also on the card is the sixth and final race in the first CTL Claiming Series for 2009, this over 1600 metres.

The winner of the L.C. McKenzie Memorial Trophy will more than likely come from a quartet comprising MR BLAIR, SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS, FIRST LADY and THE QUEEN. But even so, others such as PLEASURE FLIGHT and FOREVER MINE are worthy of consideration under light imposts.

Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta holds a fairly strong hand with three challengers - FOREVER MINE, SKETEL and PASSA PASSA, the mount of stable jockey Omar Walker, the reigning champion.

DaCosta will more than likely pin his hopes on FOREVER MINE, who caught the eye on May 30 with a fast-finishing second to YOSHI over 1100 metres. The four-year-old gelding reverts to a more suitable trip and is light enough to make it close.

SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS comes in with a real chance on the strength of her good second to TOBAGO in a fast-run 1300-metre race on June 13, while FIRST LADY won with so much in hand last time out that the additional furlong should not pose a problem to the Outrigger filly, who looked sharp in a recent seven-furlong exercise gallop (1:29.3).

While respecting her chances, the one best equipped to pull it off must be MR BLAIR, who was a beaten favourite (fourth) when making his seasonal debut behind HAIL THE GENIUS in a fast-run 1600-metre race on May 23.

That was his first outing in just over five months and although weakening into fourth place, six lengths adrift of the winner, ran much better than his final placing indicated.

Installed a 3-4 favourite, the four-year-old son of Hail Orphan prompted the pace before turning for home a length on top in a brisk 1:11.4 for the first six-furlong split. But he gradually weakened up the straight to finish fourth.

hat-trick seeker

MR BLAIR (right) with Paul Francis up getting the better of SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS (Dane Nelson) in the final strides to win the Jockey Club Stakes by a neck at Caymanas Park on October 4 last year. He will be ridden by Dane Nelson today. - File

Having trained well in preparation for this race, MR BLAIR will not go down easily from the convenient mark of 53.0kg and with leading jockey Dane Nelson aboard. Significantly, MR BLAIR notched his last win over this trip in October of last year, outfinishing SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS by a neck, and it could come down to these two once again.

I also like NAVAJOJOE to win the CTL Claiming Series race ahead of hat-trick seeker EL PEQUENO, BURNING CIELO in the first, RIP CURRENT in the fourth, BULLET TRAIN in the fifth, ALLORA in the sixth, LITTLE WASP over MINISTEROFJUSTICE and WHEEL N DEAL in the eighth for open allowance horses.