COLEMAN'S ROCK, riddien by Chris Douglas, is driven out to win the ninth race over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park last Saturday, as the 5-2 favourite. The three-year-old gelding will run again in the first race on Boxing Day. - Collin Hamilton/freelance photographer

As the 2009 racing season fast approaches its close on Boxing Day, today's penultimate race meet at Caymanas Park features the Sweet Ruckus Trophy over 1400 metres for two-year-olds, along with the sixth and final race in the Champion Betting/CTL Claiming Series over 1500 metres.

Offering a total purse of $1 million, the Sweet Ruckus Trophy a graded stakes for native and imported two-year-olds, has attracted only six starters but, despite this, it should provide keen competition among the trio of ALLABOUTTHECASH and the stable companions, CAT FOR THE KING and BIG DIVA.

Trainer Tony Kirlew holds a strong hand with the pair of American-bred horses, CAT FOR THE KING and BIG DIVA, both of whom have looked real sharp at exercise.

The two caught the eye in a seven-furlong gallop on December 17, both finishing heads on in a brisk 1:29.4. CAT FOR THE KING, to be ridden by Shane Ellis, had earlier impressed when galloping 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:07.3 on December 8, and followed up that work by covering six furlongs in 1:14.3 four days later.

Although BIG DIVA is in good nick and expected to run well, CAT FOR THE KING has looked that much sharper and should have her measure. So it will more than likely come down to a straight fight between CAT FOR THE KING (figure-eight off) and his recent conqueror, ALLABOUTTHECASH, who bids for a hat-trick of wins.

When both met for the first time over 1200 metres on November 7, ALLABOUTTHECASH outfinished CAT FOR THE KING by 1 1/4 lengths and, at the revised weights, ALLABOUTTHECASH is a kilo worse off.

It promises to be very close between the two, given the additional 100 metres of this race, as both have good speed and will be comfortable over the distance.

Preference, however, is for the Gary Griffiths-trained ALLABOUTTHECASH, under two-time champion jockey Brian Harding. She has secured a good draw on the outside of this small field and should get the better of CAT FOR THE KING and BIG DIVA at a crucial stage.

Best equipped

Meanwhile, 10 starters are slated for the Champion Betting/CTL claiming series finale, including leading lights DESIGNED FOR LUCK, MISS ROSE, POORLITTLERICHBOY and PEACE BY PEACE.

The one best equipped to pull it off must be DESIGNED FOR LUCK, to be ridden by title-chasing jockey Paul 'Country' Francis for in-form trainer Ryan Darby.

The five-year-old gelding advertised his well-being on December 12 when finishing a good second to GALAVANTER over 1600 metres, and, now back in form, should win from MISS ROSE and PEACE BY PEACE.

I also like RIFLEMAN in the first race; SEGURO ORO in the third; outgoing 'Horse of the Year' ALSAFRA to stave off THE GUARDIAN in the seventh; TRAIN TRACKER BOY in the eighth; and CHINA CROSSING (working well) over GHOST RAPPER in the ninth.