Elton Tucker
, Assistant Sport EditorROBERT Darby Jr will be seeking to parade the Colin Melhado Cup in the family trophy cupboard for a second consecutive year when he saddles CHECK ME OUT in the 2002 renewal of the Colin Melhado Cup, today's feature at Caymanas Park.
Last year the young trainer's brother, Ryan Darby, sent GIMME A DOLLAR to the post in unbeatable condition and he easily put away his rivals in the 1200 metres event for $150,000-$130,000 claimers.
Today the super fit CHECK ME OUT who comes down the claiming ladder to contest this trophy event is poised to maintain the Darby dominance in the event. Last time out over the distance, on a $180,000 tag, CHECK ME OUT blew away Red Lady and Circle de Throne to win by almost three lengths in a respectable 1.14.2.
Earlier, on December 29, at the $140,000 level the six-year-old mare was second to an out of class Butcher Man over the 1000m straight. Back today at the identical weight on a $145,000 tag CHECK ME OUT has the pace to be with the early leaders and will prove strongest in the run to the wire.
Ante post favourite CRUISE CONTROL and SEEINGISBELIEVING, to be ridden by last year's winning jockey Trevor Simpson, are the ones who should pose the biggest threat to CHECK ME OUT.
CRUISE CONTROL has looked an improved animal since being claimed for $120,000 by Patrick Fong for former champion owner Lawrence Heffes. Fong promptly sent the 7-y-o gelding up the ladder to $150,000 where he was whipped three lengths by CHECK ME OUT going 1200m and then fell victim to Hawk de Near over 1000m straight.
Dropped back to $140,000 CRUISE CONTROL won 1100m easily in a fast 1.07.3 behind splits of 23.3x46.4 and back at the same level just 2kg heavier the chestnut gelding will be hard to beat with regular jockey Kenyatta Davis in the saddle.
SEEINGISBELIEVING made an eye-catching run on December 29 when beaten four lengths fifth by Butcherman, CHECK ME OUT and Legionair. That was SEEINGISBELIEVING'S first run in almost five months and he will have benefitted greatly from the outing.
A former top level claimer, SEEINGISBELIEVING, when fully fit, can handle this bunch easily and could emerge the biggest danger to CHECK ME OUT.
A competitive Starter Handicap event is the ninth on the 12-race programme. NEFTENGA has been installed the warm ante post favourite but the 7-y-o gelding could fall to the very consistent 6-y-o mare DIXIE FLYER.
NEFTENGA, to be ridden by Simpson, has been burning up the exercise track in the new year but appears to have too much on his plate, 57kg, in today's 1300m event. Trained by Richard Azan, NEFTENGA swept past DIXIE FLYER and company with 55.5kg last December 8.
Today he returns 6kg worse off at the handicaps and I expect DIXIE FLYER, with just 50.5kg and the competent claiming apprentice Kerry Perry to set out in front and hold the finishing rush of the super fit NEFTENGA.
Other firm fancies on the card which gets underway at 12 noon are WILD AND RESTLESS (5th), MASTER BLASTER (6th), SARATOGA STAR (7th) and BLOODLUST (8th).
