SINGINGINTHERAIN ridden by the apprentice Doushane Gordon, wins the fifth race over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park last Saturday, this as the 4-5 favourite. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

The Viceroy Trophy grade one race over 1800 metres and the Jockey Club Stakes at 1400 are co-features on today's 11-race programme at Caymanas Park. These should result in wins for AD INFINITUM and SLOGAN, respectively.

Last year's Superstakes winner AD INFINITUM faces only four opponents in the opening race for the Viceroy Trophy, this offering an increased purse of $1.2 million, up from $900,000 when the race was won by MAJOR MAYER last year.

AD INFINITUM can expect stiff competition from RUM TALK, under leading all-time jockey Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths, and the American-bred horses GOOD CITIZEN and LADY HASTINGS to be ridden by champion jockey Omar Walker, fresh from a two-day suspension.

class horses

Both AD INFINITUM and RUM TALK represent the class horses of the field and, as such, have been allotted joint top weight of 60.5kg. That would give the improving American five-year-old mare LADY HASTINGS a chance with 53.5kg, but the fact that the connections of AD INFINITUM have seen it fit to secure the services of the very promising 4.0kg claiming apprentice Doushane Gordon, reducing the weight to 56.5kg, surely tilts the balance in his favour.

The seven-year-old bay gelding has failed to win a race since landing the Superstakes over 2000 metres in November of last year. However, he has run some fair races in four starts this season, notably his 2 3/4 lengths fourth to Derby winner HE'S REALLY OK in the Prime Minister's Stakes over 2000 metres on August 6 (Independence Day), when toting 58.0kg, a race in which then top weight RUM TALK finished 5 1/2 lengths fifth.

While I respect the chances of Philip Feanny's RUM TALK in this small field, I doubt he can successfully allow 4.0kg to a fit AD INFINITUM.

AD INFINITUM has caught the eye at exercise in preparation for this trophy, galloping 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.2 last Sunday morning, the last five in a brisk 1:00.1. With his preparation complete, the stretch running son of Pangur Ban should score a long overdue win.

old rivals

The Jockey Club Stakes (overnight allowance) for three-year-olds and up has attracted seven starters and this should come down to a straight fight between old rivals SLOGAN and MR BLAIR, both very fit and ideally suited to the distance.

When both horses last met over this trip on August 8 in the race won by THE GREYT DOCTOR, SLOGAN ran on well for second, leaving MR BLAIR behind in sixth place.

Despite this, I envisage a close race between the two, but preference is for SLOGAN, who has won seven races from 28 starts lifetime. Five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson is down to ride the consistent five-year-old horse for owner/trainer Clifford Atkinson.

I also like the unbeaten SPORTS BAR to win the second race for two-year-olds, SASHA in the fourth, CITY TRAIN to go one better in the seventh, THE GUV in the eighth and WORKING IMAGE to lead home 'Horse of the Year' ALSAFRA in the 10th over 1200 metres for open allowance horses.