RACING MACHINE, ridden by lightweight jockey Carlton Malcolm, powers home by 1-1/2 lengths in the Reggae Trophy grade one feature over the straight five course at Caymanas Park last Saturday. She was the 3-5 favourite. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Only six horses are down to contest the sixth running of the Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) Imported Stakes (Grade II) race over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park today, but despite the small field it promises to be keen.

Also on the card are the War Zone Sprint Trophy over 1100 metres, to be contested by 10 native bred three-year-olds; and the divided round five race for the Winnie Anglin Memorial Cup for native bred maiden two-year-old fillies.

Of the six starters declared for the CTL Imported Stakes, an open allowance contest, it should be a good race among the quartet of LITTLE WASP under champion jockey Omar Walker, HONEYOFALADY, QUICK AND GRAY and LADY HASTINGS.

The Wayne DaCosta-trained 3-y-o filly, LITTLE WASP, has looked razor sharp at exercise in preparation for this race. But now burdened with top weight of 57.0kg, she will have to dig deep if she intends to beat either HONEYOFALADY or QUICK AND GRAY.

strikes

The Tony Kirlew-trained LADY HASTINGS ran on strongly to win narrowly over 1700 metres on July 29 in overnight allowance company.

She came back with a big effort in defeat when failing by a head to catch WAP over the same distance in open allowance company on September 5.

Although on top of her game, LADY HASTINGS strikes me as the type who needs another furlong to be seen at her best and I cannot take her to finish ahead of HONEYOFALADY or QUICK AND GRAY, who first and second, respectively, in the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission Trophy over the distance on August 1.

HONEYOFALADY, who is conditioned by Dwight Chen, held on well to stave off Anthony Ferguson's QUICK AND GRAY by half a length on that day. Significantly, they are down to be ridden by inexperienced claiming apprentices.

below expectations

Both American fillies met again in the Seek Exercise Book Trophy race over 1300 metres on August 29, HONEYOFALADY running well to finish 2-1/2 lengths third to Guineas and Oaks winner SAINT CECELIA, who clocked a very fast 1:17.2 over the distance.

QUICK AND GRAY, who was highly fancied for that race, ran below expectations to finish 7-1/4 lengths fifth in receipt of 6.0kg from the free-running HONEYOFALADY.

Today, HONEYOFALADY is 5.5kg better off at the weights with QUICK AND GRAY and with the promising 4.0kg claiming apprentice Doushane Gordon riding her from the convenient mark of 52.5kg, she looks the right choice.

Other form fancies on the card are SOCA PARTY and AWESOME ANNETTE in the respective sections of the Winne Anglin Memorial Cup, ESQUIRE in the fourth, GUIDING LIGHT in the fifth, THE QUEEN in the seventh, OASIS in the ninth and SIR VALIANT to stave off recent winner HURRICANE JUSTICE in the War Zone Sprint.