THEREALPRINCE, running on strongly (outside) with Paul 'Country' Francis aboard, gets up in the nick of time to catch and beat PALATINE (Dane Nelson) in a driving finish over 1820 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday, scoring at odds of 9-1. The winner was saddled by Kingsley Davis. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

The 2008 Triple Crown winner and 'Horse of the Year', ALSAFRA, is tipped to resume winning ways at Caymanas Park today when she takes on five opponents in the 3-y-o and up open allowance race for the Fontainbleu Trophy over 1500 metres.

Also on the moderately supported nine-race programme is the 4-y-o and up restricted allowance race (non-winners of two) over 1100 metres for the Portmore Community Trophy, to be contested by eight starters.

Significantly, ALSAFRA, who will be having her second outing of the season, has elected to bypass this Saturday's Lady Geeta Trophy grade one sprint in preference for today's 'gift'.

Classy filly

Having advertised her well-being on April 4 when finishing a close second to SUPER DAVE over 1200 metres on her seasonal debut, it will take a brave punter to oppose this classy four-year-old filly from the stables of Fitznahum Williams, especially with the distance more suitable.

Her main rivals in the small field are the 2008 'Claimer of the Year' AGUILA, who is coming off a recent win over the distance and the American three-year-old colt, LITTLE WASP, a fighting winner over the high-claiming horse YAMASHITA'S GOLD recently.

Both LITTLE WASP and AGUILA are in good nick and should give a good account of themselves, but against a class act like ALSAFRA, the battle will be on for second.

ALSAFRA was somewhat unlucky to be beaten by the front running SUPER DAVE on her April 4 seasonal bow, having run down off a true line when closing strongly midway through the last furlong, eventually losing by half a length in what was a fast-run race.

Now better for that pipe-opener, ALSAFRA, under title-chasing jockey Dane Nelson, should prove too strong for rivals as this is merely a stepping stone to the top class.

Keener competition

The Portmore Community Trophy race over 1100 metres promises much keener competition, with no fewer than three of the eight starters having good claims. These include CENTANNI, BIG BARGAIN and MR THEOPHILUS.

The Owen Sharpe-trained CENTANNI has been sparingly raced since winning easily over 1200 metres on May 1 last year, but could well be a cut above the present opposition.

He proved disappointing behind LADY WALES over this trip when highly fancied on March 25, but that was his first race in over five months and he was ridden without the assistance of a whip as well.

I also like classic aspirant HE'S REALLY OK in the first race, straight specialist JET SKI D'OR in the fourth, FUGITIVE in the sixth and GABROUSHE to resume winning ways at the expense of old rival PLEASURE FLIGHT in the nightpan.