Supa Lei to atone in the 9th race
published: Friday | November 7, 2003

By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

WITH THE fancied horses holding their own for the most part at Caymanas Park last Saturday, both the Pick-9 and Super-6 start anew on tomorrow's star-studded Superstakes programme.

The major races on the card are the $4 million Red Stripe Superstakes for native bred three-year-olds and up over 2000 metres, the $2 million Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint Championship over 1200 metres, as well as the $1.5 million Red Stripe Mile for imported horses.

As usual, the focus is on the Super-6 which embraces races six to 11. This kicks off with a tough-looking race, the Red Stripe 2-Y-O Breeders Stakes over 1400 metres to be contested by 12 youngsters.

With the likes of TOTAL MOTION, GOOD TO GO, SEAGAR, PERFECT TEN, HEARTOFAMAVERICK and LATONIA all expected to figure prominently, I would advise Super-6 players to approach this race with caution and use multiple choices.

LATONIA from the in-form stables of Anthony 'Babu' Nunes showed marked improvement on his second outing over 1200 metres on October 20 when closing strongly to win the valuable Caymanas Park 2-Y-O Sprint in a blanket finish from SEAGAR, TOTAL MOTION and GOOD TO GO.

Back in action against his old rivals, LATONIA should prove hard to beat going the additional furlong. HEARTOFAMAVERICK and PERFECT TEN, winner and runner-up respectively over 1200 metres on October 8, should also enter the reckoning, especially PERFECT TEN who looks the one more likely to welcome the additional furlong. LATONIA to win from SEAGAR and PERFECT TEN is my idea of the outcome.

Next on the programe is the WITRA Distaff to be contested by seven mares and fillies, including last year's winner ZULU PRINCESS to be ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson.

I believe it will come down to a straight fight between ZULU PRINCESS and THIEA, both of whom appear to have the beating of the others. One of the more competitive races on the card is the eighth over 1400 metres, this confined to the overnight allowance class. Horses to note in the 13-strong field are MILLENIUM PRINCESS who was narrowly beaten by INSATIABLE in the Melvin 'Babu' Chin Memorial Trophy over 1200 metres on October 25, RIVER JORDON who was a fast-finishing second to MICHELKA over 1200 metres on October 29, THE MINISTER and the recent Air Jamaica Trophy winner REAL RISK from the stables of 13-time champion trainer Philip Feanny.

Over this trip, I believe the improving REAL RISK can upstage them with in-form Clive Lynch again in the saddle. The 4-y-o colt by Star Of Manila out of Gold Cup winner Bert By Jo won in the fairly good time of 1:19.2 and having worked well on Monday morning when galloping five furlongs in 1:00.0, he will not go down easily.

REAL RISK

SUPA LEI, a stable-companion of REAL RISK, has been knocking at the door and this should open when she contests the ninth race for native bred three-year-olds over 1300 metres.

SUPRA LEI failed by a length top catch LADY SHAKEERA in a recent 1200-metre trophy race. And prior to that she stayed on well for third in a fast run 1100-metre race won by PRINCESS CHIONESE. The distance should be ideal for her and she thus gets the nod over COZY PROSPECTOR and SCIO OMNIA.

I also like the down in class TOM CAT to win the 10th race, the Red Stripe Claiming Sprint ahead of SIR KISSON LAL and FIRST TRICK and in the closing race, the Red Stripe Superstakes which marks its 25th anniversary, ROYAL RUN who has done everything asked of him should win from the vastly improved PITTACUS and HERECOMESFUDGIE.