Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

AD INFINITUM ... favourite for today's feature at Caymanas Park. - file

EIGHT OPEN allowance horses are slated to contest today's principal feature for the Gladiator Trophy over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park.

The well-supported 10-race programme, which commences at noon, will also facilitate a second trophy race, the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup, again over 1400 metres, with 11 down to face the starter. Indications are that the Dwight Chen-trained LADY T, who showed promise when chasing home NEGRIL LASS over the straight-five course on her November 4 debut, will go one better with title-chasing jockey Wesley Henry again taking the ride.

Meanwhile, eight have been declared for the Gladiator Trophy, and from the look of things, it should be a closely contested affair, with the likes of AD INFINITUM, ROYAL RUN, ALPHA LUPA, MEDICAL REPORT, CHADMAN and CLASSY BOY PETE expected to figure prominently in the outcome.

Classy win

There was a lot to like about the manner in which CLASSY BOY PETE came through in mid-stretch to win the Red Stripe Draught over the distance by 1 3/4 lengths from THUNDER SQUAD in the fairly decent time of 1:26.2 on November 11.

Trained by 14-time champion Philip Feanny, the son of Royal Minister-Secret Pleasure, who was purchased for the record price of $2 million at the 2004 yearling sale, can hold his own under these conditions and having worked well, will only go down fighting although stepping up in class. There should also be good support for top-weight ROYAL RUN, who will not find the distance too short; MEDICAL REPORT, who was beaten only two lengths into second by MIRACLE MAN in the Eileen Cliggott Trophy over 1300 metres on August 26, as well as the late-kicking filly ALPHA LUPA, who loves the distance, and her stable-companion AD INFINITUM, with stable jockey Brian Harding aboard.

Back among peers

All should ensure a good race, but the one I like best is AD INFINITUM, who despite flopping behind MIRACLE MAN in the recent Red Stripe Superstakes should rebound now that he's back among his peers.

Trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, AD INFINITUM has been burning up the track at exercise in preparation for this trophy, galloping seven furlongs in 1:27.0 on November 5, the last six in 1:14.2, among other eye-catching gallops.

Although forced to go 2.5kg overweight for the services of Harding, pushing the weight to 52.5kg, this will not deter AD INFINITUM.

I expect him to race off the early pace set by CHADMAN and MEDICAL ACCOUNT, before coming through in the last furlong.

Other firm fancies on the card are PURE MUD to make amends for last Wednesday's near miss against CALABASH BAY by winning the first race, LADY ATWAREE to catch GENUINE GOLD in the third, CRUISING ALTITUDE over RUCKUS in the sixth and recent winner MARINERO to repeat at the expense of consistent SNOW PROSPECT in the eighth.