BEAUTIFUL SPACE, running at odds of 6-1 with Elvis Murray aboard, romps the War Zone Sprint Trophy over 1100 metres at Caymanas Park last Saturday to give new trainer Patrick Smellie his first career win. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance photographer

Race Number three in the popular Champion Betting/CTL Claiming takes place over 1100 metres at Caymanas Park today, this being one of three trophy races on the 11-race programme.

The others are the $650,000 Dewhurst Stakes over 1300 metres for native bred two-year-olds, this promising a straight fight between MONEY SPINNER and AL FOUZIA, both winners last time, as well as the 475th Anniversary of the Spanish Town Trophy over the straight five course for five-year-olds and up (non winners of three), to be contested by 14 starters.

The Champion/CTL Claiming Series has the makings of a highly competitive race, with no fewer than six of the 12 starters having good claims.

These include SNOW PROSPECT, who won the first race in the series over 1200 metres in a blanket finish on July 29; DIGI N' JIGGY, who romped the second race over 1300 metres on August 29; COCK ROBIN, winner of two races in the first series from January to June; along with the recent runaway winner TASSY'S WHIP, the distance specialist STICKSONTHELOOSE and down-in-class RICKAYBA.

TASSY'S WHIP looked the part when strolling home by nine lengths over the straight five course on a $180,000 claiming tag recently and should run well under in-form jockey Carlton Malcolm.

Stable change

The same is true of STICKSONTHELOOSE, whose three career wins have all come over this trip. The four-year-old filly beat a good field over the distance in the fairly good time of 1:08.1 on August 29, and although having changed stables since, her chances must be rated highly with only 49.0kg and rookie apprentice Robert Hallendeen aboard.

The one I like best, however, is the Robert Darby Sr-trained RICKAYBA, the mount of title-chasing jockey Paul 'Country' Francis.

The six-year-old gelding has beaten better in the not-too-distant past and despite the sound claims of STICKSONTHELOOSE and TASSY'S WHIP, has been programmed with this particular race in mind.

The Latin Charm - Northern Path offspring led for the first 1000 metres in a 1600-metre race won by SIMPLE SWEET on a $310,000 claiming tag when last raced on August 8. Prior to that he was fourth to KING OF THE TRACK over this trip on June 13, this on a $255,000 tag. He looks conveniently placed in the scales with 53.0kg and is down to be ridden by a jockey who knows him, Francis, having won with him in the past.

RICKAYBA, who last won over 1400 metres on June 6, has good pace and I expect him to race in touch before going through in the last furlong and beat the very dangerous STICKSONTHELOOSE.

Other firm fancies on the card are down-in-class LATIN KING in the second race; THE BEST MAN to make it four-in-a-row at the expense of BULLET TRAIN in the fourth; BUNKER DUST in the Spanish Town Anniversary Trophy; ESCAPE THE FATE in the eighth; and LORD ADMIRAL to stave off JAYLEN in the closing Track Price Plus Dig Out Handicap.