By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterAS MANY as three trophies are at stake on today's 11-race programme at Caymanas Park, this marking the first mid-week meet in over a month.
The principal races are the Restricted Allowance I for the Royal Crest Trophy over 1200 metres for native and imported three-year-olds (non winners of three), the round five Stewards' Cup for native bred maiden two-year-old colts and geldings, and the Winnie Anglin Memorial Cup also over the round five course but this for native bred maiden two-year-old fillies.
Based on exercise reports, ROYAL COMMAND and SELECTED VIEW should win the Stewards' Cup and Winne Anglin Memorial respectively.
A bay filly by Natural Selection out of the Exotic Traveler mare Breathtaking, SELECTED VIEW is down to be ridden by four-time champion Charles Hussey for brother Percy and their mom Ruth.
A good looking filly, SELECTED VIEW has been carrying herself nicely at exercise and could be a cut above average. She should get off the mark immediately at the expense of Wayne DaCosta's PADDY'S STORM, who showed promise on his August 6 debut, and the well-forward debutante MEETME AT THE WIRE in a field of nine.
WELL CONFORMED BAY COLT
ROYAL COMMAND, a well conformed bay colt by Irish Quest out of Sweet Desire, hails from the all-conquering stables of top two-year-old trainer Azan and this in itself is good enough reason to fancy his chances in the Stewards' Cup to be contested by 12 starters.
Azan aside, ROYAL COMMAND looks well forward in his preparation and is confidently expected to lead home fellow debutante SOUTHSIDE, a bay colt by Royal Minister out of Ringleader from the Billy Williams stables and also JACK BE GOOD, who shaped promisingly on his recent debut behind the Azan-trained CHARRITO.
Seven have been declared for the Royal Crest Trophy and from the look of things, it should come down to a three-cornered tussle involving TOTAL MOTION, IRISH CREAM and the American filly MY ADELAIDE from the stables of Noel Ennevor.
MY ADELAIDE was installed a 4-5 favourite on her August 7 debut over 1100 metres and although failing to justify the support, caught the eye in finishing a close fourth to THE REAL KING, this after prompting the pace into the straight.
Now a lot better for the experience, MY ADELAIDE is confidently expected to fight out the finish, but my preference is for the Wayne DaCosta-trained TOTAL MOTION who was quite impressive when slamming RISTO-CAT by six lengths in a fast run (1:12.2) 1200-metre race on August 18.
THE ONE TO BEAT
The bay filly by Royal Minister out of Pizzaz continues to move impressively at exercise and from her convenient mark of 52.0kg, looks the one to beat under two-time champion jockey Joe Buchanan.
Other firm fancies on the card are PRINCESS GOODHEART in the opening round five race, HERECOMESTHEJURY to stave off SULA in the third, the down in class PALO SECO in the fourth, AFFAIRS OF STATE to hold SIR ABBAS MANGAL at bay in the sixth and lightly raced THE SEA PRINCESS to win the closing race for maiden three-year-olds ahead of LORD LOUIS, ANCIENT SOUL and SUNSET LADY.
