Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
DISQUALIFIED! The Richard Azan-trained RAMPAGE (Allen Maragh) romps home by 4 1/2 lengths from closest rival MITAKA in last Saturday's Pick 3 'Super Challenge' two-year-old feature over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park, only to be disqualified and placed 10th following a Stewards' inquiry. The $2.5 million race was awarded to 5-1 chance MITAKA, ridden by Winston Griffiths. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE TWO-year-old maiden special for the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup over 1400 metres is today's mid-week feature at Caymanas Park, to be contested by 13 starters.
Secondary feature on the nine-race programme, which kicks off at 1:00 p.m., is race No. 5 in the CTL Claiming Series ($200,000 -$170,000) to be run over 1200 metres. This has attracted 12 starters including the recent winners TOCUMEN, WINNING MESSAGE, SAMMY MY GIRL and OLYMPIC STAR, the quartet from which the winner should emerge.
Of the 13 declared for the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup, indications are it will come down to a four-cornered tussle involving GETAWAYBOY, OLE KING COLE, MAKING DREAMS and KYSHA BABY.
An interesting entry is the Philip Feanny-trained STREET FIGHTER, the mount of champion jockey Trevor Simpson who is engaged in a tense duel with Brian Harding for the jockeys' title, both starting the day on 88 winners.
A chestnut colt by Royal Minister out of Tropical Wave, STREET FIGHTER has lots of potential, but he has not looked forward enough in his preparation to win first time of asking.
OLE KING COLE showed promise on his November 5 debut when chasing home LIGHT MY FIRE over 1300 metres and will report even better for this race.
STAYED ON WELL
To be ridden by Harding for in-form trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, OLE KING COLE stayed on well to finish 1 1/2 lengths. In the process he finished a length and a quarter ahead of the late closing GETAWAYBOY with the then 3-5 favourite MAKING DREAMS finishing a poor fifth after missing the break.
The performance of MAKING DREAMS was too bad to be true, but the son of Alisios has worked well since and can prove the last running wrong with four-time champion Charles Hussey persevering with the ride.
While MAKING DREAMS, OLE KING COLE and GETAWAYBOY should provide keen competition, KYSHA BABY is the one I like the best.
Trained by Gary Subratie, the bay filly by Crucial Trial out of Pretty Dan-Dan caught the eye on her recent debut when finishing a strong second to VAMANOS over 1100 metres, beaten by 1 1/4 lengths after being slowly into stride.
Now better for the experience and having trained well for this race, KYSHA BABY should prove hard to beat. She came from a long way behind when chasing home VAMANOS over 1100 metres, closing nearly 10 lengths up the lane in what was a fairly fast-run race.
PERFECT DISTANCE
With the distance now perfect, KYSHA BABY looks the right choice. Competent jockey Devon A. Thomas, who rode her on that initial outing, again has the ride. Having secured a good draw on the outside, KYSHA BABY should make no mistake.
Other firm fancies on the card are OLYMPIC STAR (Simpson up) to beat back-to-form TOCUMEN in the CTL Claiming series over 1200 metres, LE CHIC to upstage old rival LOCHNESS DRAGON and INTROSPECTION in the second race over 1100 metres, HAIL THE I, who finished a close fourth in the Oaks back in April, to stave off SOY MUJER in the fifth over 1800 metres, PROPOINT to win the sixth over his pet trip (the straight five course) and MAZIE JAMES (visor on) to catch STEAD GOLD in the nightpan.
