Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
TODAY's well supported Caymanas Park 12-race programme features the annual renewal of the Drumbeat Trophy (claiming $80,000) be run in two divisions over the straight five course.
In Division I, the veteran campaigner MASTER BLASTER will bid to equal EROS' all-time record of 29 career wins. The 11-year-old gelding from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta has been taking aim at EROS since recording win number 28 on March 15. But he has failed to attain the milestone in five subsequent races.
When last raced on a $97,500 tag on June 15, MASTER BLASTER closed well from below the distance to finish 3 1/2 lengths third to TIMELESS CALL and in-form MOA CHIEH over the straight five course. And prior to that he beat all barring JUST DO IT over the distance, coming from a poor draw on the far rails and also suffering interference a furlong out in the process.
Over the years he has been a specialist over the straight and despite the strong claims of recent winners T.N.T., HAKUNA MATATA and MAC THE KNIGHT, as well as MASTER PILOT and POWER BEAM, both of whom relish the straight, MASTER BLASTER with Allen Maragh aboard should prove hard to withstand over the last 200 metres.
The fleet-footed T.N.T., who just loves to win races, will more than likely set off in front and will have to be caught. He looks the main danger to MASTER BLASTER, while the grey POWER BEAM and MASTER PILOT, both of them were second best last Saturday, are sure picks for the hi-five.
Division II has also attracted the maximum 16 starters and here the competition should be more intense, as no fewer than nine of the runners have good claims. They include the recent winners JUST DO IT and ASIF, BLUE BALLADIER, L.C. INDY, XENA, I CAME IN PEACE, RESTLESS SAVITRI and the speedy four-year-old filly ONLINE, who led for over 1100 metres in the 1300 metre race won by MAGIC DANCER on June 14 and is sure to make a brave bid from her favourable high number draw.
In a really tough race, the one I like best is JUST DO IT, who bids for a hat trick of wins. The six-year-old mare from the stables of Robert Nelson beat MASTER BLASTER and CO-HABITATION when scoring over the course on May 31 and followed up with another good win over 1100 metres on June 10.
Having shown a distinct liking for the straight, a fit JUST DO IT looks the one to beat from her convenient mark of 52.0kg. The daughter of Secret has good speed and with competent apprentice Rudolph Paige riding, should win from ONLINE, BLUE BALLADIER, XENA and Saturday's scorer ASIF.
Other firm fancies on the card are BULLETIN to catch PRINCE AKEEM in the 1st race, RANI MAHARANEE to stave off STRAIGHT SIX in the 5th, BINGO PRINCESS in the 6th, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG over SPEED FREAK in the 7th, OWEN TAYLOR to make it five in a row in the 11th race for 'A1' horses and PROCEEDACCORDINGLY over recent conqueror BODY AND SOUL, SIR MOHANDAS BABA, VOLCANE and BISTRO in the very knotty 12th race over a mile.