- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
MUSIC MASTER (Charles Hussey) wins the seventh race over 1100 metres in fine style at Caymanas Park last Saturday to complete a double for Hussey on the 12-race programme. Offering odds of 9/5, Music Master was also one of three winners for many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
COURSE SPECIALISTS EMPERADOR, DANCING FLAMES and RAPIDASH should have a keen tussle for top honours when they contest today's Caqymanas Park feature race for the Eric Dias Memorial Cup (claiming $260,000 - $220,000) over the circular nine course.
All have already won the course and on paper there is little to choose from among them.
Despite this, EMPERADOR is almost sure to start favourite, even though running poorly over 1500 metres behind QUICK MEDIC when last raced on a $370,000 tag on April 3. He was very slowly away then.
However, it should be noted that the six-year-old son of Imperial Ballet - Runaway Shelia notched his last win over today's trip on February 25 when leading home FRIENDLY EXPRESS and GILNOCK by 5-1/2 lengths in the good time of 1:58.1.
A free-running sort, the Tensang Chung-trained EMPERADOR will report well refreshed to vie for this trophy and stepping back to this his happy hunting ground, will prove hard to beat with champion jockey Trevor Simpson now taking the ride.
DANCING FLAMES, the mount of title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis, won over the distance in September of last year and failed narrowly against ZEEDON in a subsequent race over same trip last October.
The six-year-old mare from the stables of Michael Beecham finished a remote fifth to IDITAROD over a mile when last raced on February 28. Despite the lengthy absence, she has been taken to task at exercise in preparation for this trophy and none will report fitter.
Although it could be said that EMPERADOR is a more accomplished campaigner than DANCING FLAMES, the fact that the latter has looked so responsive at exercise makes her an appealing proposition from the convenient mark of 52.0kg.
STRUGGLING
RAPIDASH, from the Ryan Darby stables, has been struggling to pay his way of late, but all this could change with a trophy at stake.
The 6-y-o gelding by Corsicana out of Hooves has begun to look his old self at exercise since finishing a poor fifth to AFFAIRS OF STATE over 1500 metres when last raced on May 22 and with the distance more to his liking, he can prove equal to the task with only 52.0kg.
All factors considered, the superior speed of EMPERADOR should play a decisive role in the outcome. He has been a regular visitor to the pool and seems fit enough to put it across DANCING FLAMES and RAPIDASH.
Other firm fancies on the card are ROYAL MATTERS to land the first race, the sparingly raced QUIET GIANT (little to beat) to romp the second race, FORMULA ONE to stave off CORDITE in the 7th, the improving MOST WANTED ahead of MOZURI in the 8th and Simpson's mount MINISTER ON WHEELS to make all at the expense of RAINBOW CHASER, LADY WAHEEDA and QUEEN LITTLE SHOES in the 10th and final.
Post time is 1:30 p.m.
