Hercules a firm banker

By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Apprentice rider Devon S. Thomas pushes out LADY CHATURA (left) to past long time leader LITTLEREDRIDINGHOOD (Rudolph Paige) in the Restricted Allowance II race over 1400 metres at Caumanas Park on Wednesday. The winner is trained by Harry Jaghai and owned by Bombay Stud Farm. - Dennis Coke

THE Racing Pools game gets underway with a 3-y-o maiden condition race over 1500 metres, but with good recent almost non-existent it should pay to string along with LADY PAM who proved competitive on Wednesday.

Trained by Harry Parsard, the bay filly by Liver Stand out of Miss Mij led for over 800-metre to finish third (promoted to second) in a straight five race won by smart debutante NITRO on Wednesday and with her 10 opponents basically duds, so to speak, she should seize the opportunity to make all.

ANNIE'S GIFT, COUNTESS GIM and WITH INTENT should offer worthwhile opposition in this poor excuse of a race, which offers a purse as high as $300,000.

Next on the programme is Division I of a straight five conditional claiming race ($100,000) over the straight five course. Main hopefuls in the 11-strong field are the likely favourite MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, LADY SUNEETA (if coming away cleanly), RUNNING CHASE and RASCALA.

RUNNING CHASE failed by a head to catch YOUNG DOCTOR over 1200 metres on August 22 and now a month later, can go one better in present company, especially over a distance he has often done well.

The same is true of MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, who was 12 lengths third to out of class FATHER ANTHONY over the course behind a fast-time on July 18 and could prove the right choice with only 51.0kg and in-form Kenyatta Davis aboard. Another horse expected to figure seriously is TAZZMARAZZ, who advertised her well being on September 12 when finishing a close third to MACCA over the course from a bad draw. TAZZMARAZZ catches my fancy, but only just from MIGHTY JOE YOUNG.

Race number three, a restricted allowance one over 1200 metres, should provide keen competition among the seven three-year-olds declared, all of whom are very fit. SELENA MYSTIQUE had subsequent winner BUCKEISHA in second when winning the Knutsford Park Cup over the distance on August 29, reports even fitter and is afforded a grand chance of repeating.

The American filly MINISTER'S DELIGHT was installed a firm favourite on her debut over the course back in June, but walked out of the starting gate and finished 4 1/4 lengths sixth to COUNTER STORM.

Since then she has looked improved at exercise and is poised for a capital effort, while WHITE WATER failed by 1 3/l lengths to catch JADE RUNNER over the distance on August 25 and can make amends with the blinkers now fitted. Also, proven campaigner PATAS DE FUEGO (working well) could return with a bang, even though having his first outing since July 7. In a race where two horses or more should be used, consistent WHITE WATER gets the nod.

SPARKLING FLAME, having finished 3 1/'2 lengths fifth (running on) to SAVOIR FAIRE over the straight five course last Saturday, gets the nod over course specialists CHAVEZ RAVINE, TALENTED TRAVELER amnd DOCTOR FEEL GOOD in the fourth. The four-year-old filly by Dixie Dancer out of Micro Maid is not only best drawn on the stands' side this time around, but has the services of title chasing jockey Ramon Parish as well.

In the fifth race, again over the straight, the sparingly raced ATLANTIC PRINCESS should prove hard to contain despite racing for the first time since winning over the course last Boxing Day.

The bay filly from the stables of Arnold Rambally has moved well at exercise in preparation for this race, galloping five furlongs out of the straight in 1:02.2 Monday morning. She should win from last Saturday's course winner CHAMPAGNEFORGARY and ADELZAGUNN.

The last three races should be won by MEZZALUNA (fast, loves the straight), HERCULES (aimed too low for Craven 'A' series) and SUZIE'S GIFT (best of a bad lot) in the closing race. Their respective dangers are JADE RUNNER in the 6th, SILVER FOX in the 7th and MISS E.D. in the nightpan.

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