By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTWO TROPHIES are at stake on today's Caymanas Park 10-race programme, the round five Stewards' Cup for native bred maiden two-year-olds and the Restricted Allowance I for the Royal Crest Trophy over 1200 metres for native and imported three-year-olds. Post time is 1:00 p.m.
Seven youngsters have been declared for the Stewards' Cup including the likely favourite GOOD TO GO, the well advanced debutante STEROFABULOUS and KING CHARLES who has looked sufficiently forward to do himself justice first time of asking.
The Philip Feanny-trained STEROFABULOUS has worked well in preparation for this encounter and with the opposition not too hot, can open his career on a winning note.
BIG EFFORT
The bay colt by Royal Minister out of Quick Burst which makes him a half brother to the unbeaten 3-y-o filly PRINCESS CHIONESO, seems poised for a big effort and with apprentice Oneil Mullings riding in good form, is not to be taken lightly.
KING CHARLES should also make a favourable first impression despite the presence of the sparingly used jockey Ray Gibbs who rides the son of Law Of The Sea - Later Crusader for trainer Barry Dawes.
KING CHARLES has been beating stable-companion HENRIETTA MARIA at exercise in recent weeks and the latter ran a good race on Saturday when a fast-finishing second to CANTRE LIBRA in the Winnie Anglin Memorial Cup over the round five course. That is saying something for the chances of KING CHARLES.
Still, the one to beat must be GOOD TO GO who caught the eye on his recent debut when a fast-finishing fourth to KAZ HO ME over 800 metres straight. Indeed, GOOD TO GO who finished only a length behind the runner-up CANTRE LIBRA in that race, would possibly have won had he not swerved about badly in the closing stages.
Despite running green, the son of Footloose out of the Airgator mare French Line closed rapidly on the heels of the runner-up and now a lot better for the experience, will prove hard to beat over the round five course. In-form jockey Kenyatta Davis rides GOOD TO GO for trainer Kevin Mattis.
In contrast, the Royal Crest Trophy promises keen competition among the nine starters as no fewer than six of the of them have sound claims. These are PALO SECO, ZAHBO, ROCKET GUITAR, DUBAI EXPRESS, MAMA NELLIE and ROSE BUD.
Former champion trainer Philip Feanny holds a fairly strong hand with the grey fillies WAR TURF and ROSE BUD, either of whom is capable winning if running up to their best. Of the two, ROSE BUD has looked sharper at exercise, galloping five furlongs in 1:00.2 last Thursday morning. With her preparation complete, ROSE BUD can impact on the outcome.
The Richie Todd-trained imported colt PALO SECO showed promise on his recent debut when finishing just over a length fourth to HEDIA'S PROSPECT and now better for the run, will not be out of it. Recent upset ROCKET GUITAR and ZAHBO (regaining form) are both fit and they can also enter the reckoning.
While others such as MAMA NELLIE and FABULOUS CAT are not without chances, the one most likely to pull it off is DUBAI EXPRESS, to be ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson for top trainer Wayne DaCosta.
The bay gelding by Kammtarra out of Oaks winner Habitual was far from disgraced when beaten into third place by the impressive CITY LIGHTS over the round five course on August 20, a race in which he figured prominently throughout and only lost second to the imported filly US ONE close home.
Having caught the eye at exercise in preparation for this trophy, DUBAI EXPRESS can prove equal to the task on past performances. True, he reports in a tough field, but has nothing to complain about from his convenient mark of 53.0kg and should escape his fellow speedsters from early in the straight and win from ZAHBO and PALO SECO.
Other firm fancies on the card are ROYAL RUN to complete the hat-trick in the first, MANISH in the second, RED GENERAL to catch MY PAL DON in the third, SHAHID to score an overdue win at the expense of SEXYand SAID I SAID I in the sixth and SIREN to stave off PHANTOM J and KING'S HIGHWAY in the eighth.
