Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
POLISH MARKET, ridden by Kenyatta Davis, wins the sixth race over the circular nine course as the even money favourite, at Caymanas Park last Saturday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
SUPREME VENTURES Limited's lucrative three-race series worth $7.5 million begins at Caymanas Park today with the $2 million Cash Pot 'Only For Me' Trophy (Grade III) race over 1200 metres, confined to native-bred three-year-olds.
The second race in the series, the Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy (Grade III) over 1400 metres, takes place on Saturday, November 26, with a purse of $2 million, while the series will climax on Boxing Day, Tuesday, December 27, with the Supreme Ventures Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes (Grade I) over 1600 metres with a total purse of $3 million up from $2.25 million last year.
In addition to the fabulous purse money, $5.5 million of which has been put up by Supreme Ventures, provision has been made for a million-dollar bonus to the lucky owner of the two-year-old that wins all three races.
BEST OF THE BEST
With big bucks in the offing, today's race has not surprisingly attracted the best native-bred two-year-olds seen out so far this season.
Seven have been declared (all winners), including the unbeaten trio of MINISTER ON FIRE, stable-companion FIRE WORKS and SUPER NATURAL. Another who can definitely be added to the mix is the Wayne DaCosta-trained BULLET TRAIN, who has not only been administered Lasix for the first time, but has been burning up the track at exercise in preparation for this race.
Leading trainer DaCosta holds a very strong hand with BULLET TRAIN and especially SUPER NATURAL, who is unbeaten in two starts and reports on Lasix for the first time as well. Both have been splitting hairs at exercise in preparation for this race, working together last Monday morning and finishing in a virtual dead-heat in a 5-1/2-furlong gallop, both clocking a fast 1:06.0 by 1:00.1 for the first five furlongs.
I understand that SUPER NATURAL looked a shade easier in that workout and this son of Alisios-Unnatural seemingly has a bit more class than BULLET TRAIN.
The race is expected to come down to a straight fight between DaCosta and champion trainer Philip Feanny, who saddles two very strong contenders in MINISTER ON FIRE and FIRE WORKS to be ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson and leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths, respectively.
Simpson, who apparently had choice of rides, has decided to stay with the stretch-running MINISTER OF FIRE who is unbeaten in three starts.
There was a lot to like about the manner in which the son of Royal Minister-Awesome Wonder closed strongly to overhaul the front running BULLET TRAIN close to home in the Keeling Memorial Cup over 1100 metres on August 31, a race in which NO GUTS NO GLORY stayed on to finish three lengths third.
But NO GUTS NO GLORY was beaten out of sight by the speedy SUPER NATURAL in the Dewhurst Stakes over 1300 metres next time out on September 21.
ONE TO BEAT
While I have every respect for MINISTER ON FIRE and the speedy FIRE WORKS, who tries the round course for the first time, SUPER NATURAL looks the one to beat.
He won much easier than his 3-/4-length margin indicated when leading home LAW LORD and company over 1300 metres and prior to that trotted up by almost nine lengths on his debut over 1100 metres on August 20.
Now back on Lasix and working brilliantly, I expect another superlative performance from SUPER NATURAL who could well make all, ahead of MINISTER ON FIRE. Four-time champion jockey Charles Hussey again has the ride.
Other firm fancies on the card are PRIOR PARK to lead home SIR KHAN and SHAN FABULOSA in the 6th race, recent winner JACK SPARROW to repeat at the expense of BLOW WIND BLOW in the 7th, CHOSEN ahead of KAMIR and DIESEL in the 8th and LADY BALLARI to catch RENEE'S STAR and JIG YOUNG in the nightpan.
