By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE curtain comes down on the National Gas Stations' Fillies and Mares Championship series at Caymanas Park today with the $625,000 Reggae Trophy over the straight five course. This marks the sixth and final race in the lucrative series.
Among the six starters is the crack American 5-y-o mare GAILY DECORATED, fresh from her impressive victory in the $1 million Red Stripe Mile on November 11.
Trained by Errol Waugh, GAILY DECORATED has won her last three races in fast times. She should not only start a firm favourite today, but dispose of rivals and cement her claim for the 2000 'Champion Sprinter' award.
Prior to winning the Red Stripe Mile, GAILY DECORATED made all over the straight five course on September 30 to beat OWEN TAYLOR and DR. R.S.F. in a driving finish.
That marked the start of her resurrection as a 'big horse' at the top level. She subsequently romped the Melvin "Babu' Chin Memorial Cup over 1200 metres in near track record of 1:10.2 on October 28, before stepping up to a mile to surprise 'deportee' DEPUTY'S REPORT on 'Superday'.
Although asked to give weight all around, GAILY DECORATED with top apprentice Ramon Parish again slated, should cripple rivals with speed in the earlies and let her class do the rest.
She continues to look the part at exercise and is really hard to oppose from the convenient mark of 55kg, minus Parish's 2.0kg claiming allowance.
To my mind, her only serious rival is the much improved American filly RATIFIED, who failed to record her fifth consecutive win when decisively beaten by GAILY DECORATED in the Red Stripe Mile.
Despite finishing a poor sixth that day, RATIFIED should prove a different proposition over the straight course, having won over the distance in August. She has good speed and the presence of hot jockey Trevor Simpson could be a plus in her favour.
Meanwhile, MASTER BLASTER, the winningest horse in the history of local racing, goes for his 32nd career win today when he takes on 11 opponents in Division II of the $100,000 straight five claiming race. The 11-year-old gelding from the stables Robert Darby beat BORN IN BUBBLES in a driving finish over the straight when last raced on October 28 and despite the presence of recent winner BLUE BALLADIER, who is ideally suited to the straight, his torrid finishing speed should make a difference. MASTER BLASTER to win from BLUE BALLADIER, SIR KRISHNA BABA and back to form RASHAD is my idea of the outcome.
I also like recent winner GOLDEN RAJAH (super fit) to repeat in the 2nd race, BAY SAVAGE (loves the distance) to do likewise in the 3rd, CHAMPION GIRL (seeks 4th straight win) over JUST DO IT and BORN IN BUBBLES in the 4th, ALEX'S PEGASUS (unlucky on last) in the 9th and KENTUCKY PRINCESS (knocking at the door) over FRAULEIN and LET THE MUSIC PLAY in the knotty 10th race.
