Shane Ellis ... will be aboard JAYLEN.

Non-winners of two three-year-olds hold centre stage at Caymanas Park today when a full field of 16 faces the starter for the $550,000 Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association of Jamaica Trophy race over 1400 metres.

While the race promises keen competition, the winner will more than likely emerge from a group comprising JAYLEN, YOJIMBO, NEPTUNE, ANASTASIA, FLAWLESS TALENT and IT IS WRITTEN. Indeed, the hi-five should come from the above-mentioned horses.

Champion jockey Omar Walker is down to ride YOJIMBO, one who caught the eye on July 29 when finishing a close second to SPACE FURY over 1600 metres, a race in which he had the then favourite NEPTUNE another length behind in third.

From the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, YOJIMBO had earlier won over 1300 metres among maidens in April and based on his last run, the son of Western Classic - Korsage must have a real chance of going one better, especially with a trophy at stake.

DaCosta holds a fairly strong hand with the front-running IT IS WRITTEN, who will be gunning to make all.

The chestnut gelding has been running consistently well and last time out finished 3 3/4 lengths third to VONALMIGHTY over 1200 metres after being slowly into stride. Having worked well since, IT IS WRITTEN should relish this easier pace and will have to be caught.

NEPTUNE

Both NEPTUNE and ANASTASIA will be running on strongly at the finish and neither can be left out of calculations. The Dwight Chen-trained NEPTUNE scored over 1500 metres in fast-time (1:32.3) on June 13 and although coming late behind SPACE FURY in his subsequent race, is a danger to all with back-to-form Brian Harding in the saddle.

Despite the sound claims of NEPTUNE, YOJIMBO and IT IS WRITTEN, the one best equipped to pull it off must be JAYLEN, a lightly raced chestnut colt who was second to subsequent Derby winner HE'S REALLY OK in the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) when having his third outing on May 23.

No jockey has been declared to ride JAYLEN but trainer Dalton Sirjue disclosed on Thursday that Shane Ellis, whose 10-day suspension by the JRC was squashed on Wednesday, will be aboard.

JAYLEN was unplaced in both the Derby and St Leger but the Burning Marque - Psyche offspring has been reprogrammed for this race and having looked sharp in recent exercise spins, will not go down easily.

JAYLEN caught the eye at exercise last Saturday morning when galloping 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:07.4, the last five in 1:01.4. On Tuesday he paced seven furlongs in 1:38.0.

With his preparation complete, JAYLEN looks the right choice from his convenient mark of 53.50kg.

Other firm fancies on the card are TRIAL LAWYER in the 2-y-o race, GUIDING LIGHT in he fifth, GOLDEN COMPASS in the eighth and SLOGAN over Mr BLAIR in the closing Track Price Plus Dig Out Handicap.