IT'S Jockey Club Day at Caymanas Park today, the big 13-race programme featuring the $350,000 Jockey Club Stakes for native bred three-year-olds over 1400 metres.
Ten will take part, including the stable-companions INDULGE YOURSELF, GENERAL VERRAZANO and EL MATADOR, as well as the vastly improved WYLE COYOTE, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, SPEED FREAK and MR. VIGOROUS, the group from which I am expecting the winner to emerge. The field has been reduced to 10 since final declarations were made on Wednesday. EXOTIC PRINCESS was deemed not eligible due to sickness.
Second generation trainer Michael Mattis holds a strong hand with INDULGE YOURSELF, EL MATADOR and the Derby runner-up GENERAL VERAZZANO, who though expected to figure, might need another 200 metres in which to catch the principals.
EL MATADOR won over 1200 metres earlier, running on strongly to catch and beat WYLE COYOTE by a head. He returns with only 48.5kg today and although facing a much improved WYLE COYOTE, the son of Dixie Dancer should make his presence felt with only 48.5kg.
To my mind, Mattis' best hope lies with INDULGE YOURSLEF, who by virtue of his impressive victory over the distance in the March 11 Prince Consort Stakes, when slamming PAPA DON'T PREACH and THE BARBARIAN, could really outclass the opposition. But INDULGE YOURSELF has had his problems.
He not only missed the Track Price 2000 Guineas and Red Stripe Derby, but the National Jamaica St. Leger as well. After running poorly in a Starter Handicap race on May 9, INDULGE YOURSELF has been looking better at exercise to meet this engagement and although at best 90 percent in condition just now, should not for an instance be taken lightly.
I am also expecting particularly good performances from MIGHTY JOE YOUNG and SPEED FREAK, both of whom are capable of winning from their convenient mark.
While respecting the chances of MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, SPEED FREAK and of course INDULGE YOURSELF, the one I like best is WYLE COYOTE, despite topweight of 57.0kg.
From the stables of leading trainer Philip Feanny, the dark bay gelding has shown such vast improvement in recent months that he was able to stave off the American filly RATIFIED over 1200 metres in overnight allowance company on August 5. And prior to that she failed by a neck to catch THE BARBARIAN over 1100 metres on July 1. Two weeks earlier WYLE COYOTE slammed SEAMASTER and subsequent winner PRINCE ADAM by 6 1/4 lengths over 1300 metres and all in all, has the credentials to put away this field.
He has trained well for today's encounter and even from the head of the handicaps, the son of Exotic Traveler out of Born To Be Wild will prove hard to beat with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths aboard.
Other firm fancies on the card are HYDE PARK in the 2nd, MISS GOTHAM CITY in the 4th, CHAMPAGNEFORGARY in the 6th, ADOLPHITO over SHE'S REVIEW in the 7th race for the Eric Dias Memorial Cup and RATIFIED to atone for her recent near miss by landing the 9th.
By Orville Clarke
Freelance Writer
