Bank on Anastasia
Published: Friday | September 11, 2009
THE BEST MAN (left), running as the 4-5 favourite with in-form Paul 'Country' Francis astride, completes the hat-trick at the expense of LIL' TIGER (Doushane Gordon) in the eighth race (claiming $450,000-$400,000) over the straight five course at Caymanas Park last Saturday. The winner is trained by Ryan Darby. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
With twelve races slated for Caymanas Park tomorrow, the programme will facilitate two Super-6s.
Both start anew with the guaranteed minimum of $750,000, while the Pick-9 will embrace races four to 12. This also starts anew with the minimum $1 million.
We look at the second Super-6 on the well-supported and competitive looking programme, this commencing with a 3-y-o and up restricted stakes (non-winners of three) to be contested by eight starters over 1400 metres.
Included in the line-up are three recent winners in YOJIMBO, WESTERN GENIUS and ANASTASIA.
ANASTASIA, who was second to SAINT CECELIA in this year's Bigga Oaks, beat a good field over this trip in the TOBA Trophy on August 8, running on strongly under title-chasing jockey Paul 'Country' Francis to win by a length from LORD ADMIRAL and then favourite JAYLEN.
Also among her victims was the Wayne DaCosta-trained YOJIMBO who, after finishing fifth (slowly into stride), came back to slam a good field in a fast-run 1500-metre race in which he made all the running.
However, YOJIMBO will have to contend with the speed of VALENTINE LOVER, IMMANUEL AND KATIE and BEAUITIFUL SPACE, which in the end should set it up nicely for the stretch-running ANASTASIA.
The eighth race over 1300 metres for the Donald Tankoy Memorial Cup, confined to maiden three-year-olds, looks tailored for SHEISAMAHARANEE who has been knocking at the door for some time.
Performance
Trained by Gresford Smith, the three-year-old filly by Burning Marque out of Rani Maharanee failed by half a length to catch GOLDEN COMPASS over 1200 metres on August 8, and should upstage SEGURO ORO on the strength of that performance.
The ninth race over 2000 metres for the Kenneth Mattis O.D. Trophy (overnight allowance) should resolve itself into a straight fight between the four-year-old filly IT IS I and PRIME MINISTER, both of whom enjoy two turn races.
Although IT IS I (a recent winner) won the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) over this trip in May of last year, preference is for PRIME MINISTER, who has been running consistently well over distances in better company.
SKIPPING SUE, who was caught on the line by SAPPHIRE over 1200 metres recently, should go one better at the expense of old rivals GOLDEN COMPASS and RUNIN ON EMPTY in the 10th race over 1100 metres.
The day's feature for the Reggae Trophy (grade one) over the straight five course has attracted nine starters, including the very fit stable companions AHWHOFAH, RACING MACHINE and THE GUARDIAN.
Class horse
AHWHOFAH, who bids for her fourth consecutive grade one win, represents the class horse of the field and could again defy the big weight (60.5kg) with champion jockey Omar Walker aboard. The Wayne DaCosta-trained four-year-old filly got up on the line to catch the fleet-footed American filly RACJNG MACHINE (working exceptionally well) in the Caymanas 50th Anniversary Trophy race over 1300 metres on August 22, and with the trip now reduced, RACING MACHINE is preferred.
BADJEROS ROSE, who finished 51/2 fifth to JET SKI D'OR over the straight on a $230,000 tag recently and is down in class, gets the nod over course specialist MUSTANG and ANDIAMO in the closing straight five race (claiming $180,000), the Track Price Dig Out Handicap.
SUPER-6 FANCIES
(7) ANASTASIA/YOJIMBO/
(8) SHEISAMAHARANEE/
(9) PRIME MINISTER/IT IS I
(10) SKIPPING SUE/RUNIN ON EMPTY
(11) RACING MACHINE
(12 BADJEROS ROSE/MUSTANG




















