Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The Dalton Sirjue-trained BLUE MARLIN is poised to win today's feature race for the Ossie Steele Memorial Cup over 1200 metres (claiming $90,000-$340,000) at Caymanas Park from the convenient mark of 52.0kg.

By Outrigger out of Fight For Pleasure, the six-year-old grey mare is coming off a below-par performance behind QUEEN OF MY HEART over 1400 metres when highly fancied on July 25, but this represents an easier assignment.

It should be recalled that BLUE MARLIN reared at the start and also ran wide into the straight last time out, eventually finishing 14 lengths sixth on a $440,000 claiming tag. Now dropped in class to vie for this trophy, she should atone.

Blue scorings

BLUE MARLIN has scored once from only four starts this season, storming through early in the straight to win easily over 1300 metres on April 4, this on a $390,000 claiming tag.

She subsequently finished a close third to SATISFIER in a 1600-metre trophy race on a high claiming tag, before her sixth-place finish three weeks ago. She seems focused for today's race and should go well under former champion jockey Percy Williams.

Although expected to win, BLUE MARLIN will have to get everything right in order to take home this trophy, as the race promises keen competition.

Horses such as RAJPUT, MAGNIFICO, THE BEST MAN, AVABELLE and LITTLEREDCORVETTE (regaining form) should ensure a competitive race, especially RAJPUT, the mount of champion jockey Omar Walker, who rode him last time out.

RAJPUT looks the principal danger despite managing only fourth to PIECE A FOOT over 1300 metres as the odds-on-favourite on July 25, this on a $325,000 tag.

Claimed out of that race by trainer Dennis Lee, RAJPUT, who had finished second to MAGNIFICO and GALAVANTER in his two previous races, has been administered Lasix for the first time and this should lift his performance.

Close finish

Still, BLUE MARLIN has more appeal and she should close strongly in the last furlong for this win.

Elsewhere on the programme, the recent winner HEART OF GOLD, with Walker aboard, is tipped to repeat in the closing Track Price Plus Dig Out Handicap to be contested by 14 starters over 1300 metres.

From the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, HEART OF GOLD, who has been sparingly raced since finishing third to ALSAFRA in last year's Oaks and 1000 Guineas, won easily over 1820 metres on August 1 and with the shorter distance no obstacle, her final rattle should prove hard to withstand with only 53.0kg.

FIRELINK has been knocking loudly at the door and should prove a big danger, while LUCKY EDDIE will enjoy every inch of this trip. But I suspect HEART OF GOLD has a bit more class than both.

I also like THE GUARDIAN to catch stable-companioin MR. SKILL and TOBAGO in the first race over 1100 metres for open allowance horses, ESCAPE THE FATE in the second, UNDAUNTED to repeat in the third, OUR DEELITE in the fifth, FELICIDAD in the sixth and NEW KINGSTON in the seventh.