Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Hylton Dallas (left) presents the Prince Consort Stakes Trophy to Millade Azan who accepts it on behalf of Richard Azan (right), owner/trainer of KAMIR who romped the 1400-metre race for native bred 3-y-o colts and geldings at Caymanas Park on Saturday. Included in the presentation party are Yvonne Mattis (third left), Monique Ennevor and Richard Azan Jr. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
A HIGHLY competitive one-mile race for the City of Kingston Centenary Cup is today's midweek feature at Caymanas Park. Post time is 1:00 p.m.
Confined to the highest claiming spread $390,000 down to $330,000 the race has attracted 13 starters including the recent winners GILNOCK, RED GENERAL, stable-companion MOLTEN LAVA and CORDITE and they are expected to provide keen competition.
In addition to this quartet,
others capable of winning are BROTHER DANIEL and ROSE BUD, both dropped in class to vie for this trophy, as well as QUICK MEDIC.
With keen rivalry expected, there should be much activity in the market and it's anybody's guess as to who will go off the favourite. Will it be GILNOCK, BROTHER DANIEL or RED GENERAL?
Trainer Richie Todd holds a fairly strong hand with the recent winners RED GENERAL and MOLTEN LAVA, to be ridden by 2kg claiming apprentice Andrew Nunes and Larris Allen respectively.
Although MOLTEN LAVA romped the Tewfic Ziadie Memorial Cup over the circular nine course on a $320,000 tag March 5, RED GENERAL (working well) is a more seasoned campaigner in high claiming and has that more appeal.
Coming back on the convenient mark of 52kg after winning narrowly over 1300 metres (running on strongly) on February 23, he could well repeat.
Prior to winning his last race, RED GENERAL was a fast-finishing third to GILNOCK over 1400 metres on February 5, finishing a mere 1 1/4 lengths adrift. He will love the additional 200 metres of this race.
CLOSE FINISH
ROSE BUD, now dropped to high claiming with Charles Hussey riding for brother Percy, has beaten better in the not-too-distant past and along with GILNOCK and BROTHER DANIEL, who are no strangers to winning at this level, should ensure a close finish.
BROTHER DANIEL, now back to his happy hunting ground after racing prominently for a long way behind HEARTOFA-MAVERICK over 1500 metres in overnight allowance company on January 22, usually has the beating of this class and even in the face of stiff opposition, can prove equal to the task from his favourable outside draw.
Still, while BROTHER DANIEL and RED GENERAL will prove tough opponents, my preference is for the Desmond Shand-trained GILNOCK whose tremendous late kick should seal the issue over his pet distance of a mile.
The 6-y-o gelding by Prime Rate Powers out of Dorado Star has not only won his last two races but having trained well in preparation for this trophy, is tipped to extend his winning streak from the convenient mark of 53kg.
Competent 3kg claiming apprentice Dalton Brown, who partnered GILNOCK to victory last time out, again has the ride.
Other firm fancies on the 10-race programme are STATE PRINCE to upstage KINGS-TONIAN in the first race, KINKOTSU LIU LIU to make all in the third, MAMBO to catch MARVELLOUS MINISTER in the fourth, down in class HERECOMESFUDGIE to rebound in the fifth race over 2000 metres and Saturday's scorer SAID I SAID over LADY KAMPOOR in the seventh.
