The Richie Todd-trained filly RAGING FURY is eased down by apprentice André Martin to win the Eight Thirty Sprint over the straight five course by four lengths at Caymanas Park last Saturday. She won at odds of 7-2. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

CAYMANAS PARK marks its first mid-week meet for 2007 with a well-supported nine-race programme featuring race No. 1 in the CTL Claiming Series ($200,000 - $170,000) over the straight five course.

This should provide an interesting contest among the 10 starters, most of whom are enjoying good recent form.

The winner will more than likely come from a group comprising EASTERN LIGHT, who bids for a hat-trick of wins over the course; the recent winner WIND JAMMER, along with CHOO CHOO CHOO, MY BOY and RUCKUS to be ridden by four-time champion jockey Emilio 'Bimbo' Rodriquez who returns from a two-day suspension.

WIND JAMMER and EASTERN LIGHT will have lots of supporters as either is capable of winning again. EASTERN LIGHT, who is something of a specialist over the straight, shoulders top weight of 57kg, but this should hardly deter him.

The six-year-old gelding from the stables of Robert Darby Jr. beat RED I and subsequent winner DEARDREAMER in a driving finish over the course on Boxing Day and came back six days later to score an even-closer victory by a neck over the then badly drawn CHOO CHOO CHOO with RUCKUS a mere length away third.

Revised weights

At the revised weights, however, EASTERN LIGHT is all of 7.5kg worse off with CHOO CHOO CHOO who now better drawn is fancied to turn the tables. RUCKUS, also worse off at the scales, looks held by CHOO CHOO CHOO as well.

Indeed, CHOO CHOO CHOO, on the basis of the last performance, could prove a cinch with only 48kg and red hot claiming apprentice Javour Simpson aboard, despite facing a very dangerous opponent in WIND JAMMER.

Owned and trained by Neive Graham, WIND JAMMER beat a good field when making virtually all over 1100 metres on January 13 in a time of 1:09.1

She has worked brilliantly in preparation for this trophy and although CHOO CHOO CHOO will prove a tough opponent, will only go down fighting from her favourable high number draw.

The Dennis Lee-trained CHOO CHOO CHOO won over 1100 metres in the smart time of 1:07.1 under 57.0kg on December 7, 2006, then came back to finish 3 1/4 lengths second to out-of-class SENOR GATO over same in 1:07.1 on December 23.

On the basis of time, CHOO CHOO CHOO definitely tops the figures and thus gets the nod over WIND JAMMER and the Anthony Nunes-trained 4-y-o gelding MY BOY, who has worked nicely in preparation for this race.

Other firm fancies on the card are the well-advanced 3-y-o debutante ACCOMPONG in the second race, WAR LEGEND in the fourth, INTROSPECTION in the fifth and SIR KNIGHT over SIR KISSON LAL in the nightpan.