WHITE DIAMOND, one of three winners for five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson, wins the sixth race over 1300 metres in fine style at Caymanas Park last Saturday, at odds of 5-1. Simpson's other winners were ASTRO CRUNCH and JACK BE GOOD. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

The annual renewal of the Birnamwood Trophy race over 1300 metres, this for horses from the $315,000 to $295,000 claiming spread, takes the spotlight at Caymanas Park today.

Eight have been declared for the race and indications are that victory will go to the seven-year-old gelding, INTROSPECTION, with in-form claiming apprentice Harriston Lewis aboard.

Trained by Steadman Curtis, INTROSPECTION is actually stepping down in class to vie for this trophy, following his unplaced effort behind HERECOMESFUDGIE in the City of Kingston Centenary Cupover 1600 metres on April 14, a race in which he showed up prominently for over 1000 metres.

The chestnut gelding by Sir Lal Bahadur out of Tee Vee Gee is even better suited to this trip and should show his appreciation for the drop in class by rebounding with a win today.

INTROSPECTION returns on the convenient mark of 52.0kg and despite the sound claims of FIWI EMBLEM (regaining form), BADJEROS ROSE and SENOR GATO, he looks the one to beat.

He has most to fear from FIWI EMBLEM who caught the eye last Wednesday when chasing home the front-running TIME OF MY LIFE over 1100 metres, this on a $305,000 claiming tag.

The Canadian-bred horse from the stables of Robert Darby Sr. should welcome the additional furlong and back in action from the convenient mark of 50.0kg and crack apprentice Carlton Malcolm aboard, should prove dangerous.

Elsewhere on the programme, CHIPONYOURSHOULDER, who was fourth to RUM TALK in the recent Jamaica Licensed Bookmakers 2000 Guineas, should have little difficulty in winning the seventh race over 1500 metres for native bred three-year-olds (non winners of two).

Prior to the 2000 Guineas in which he was beaten 5-1/2 lengths by RUM TALK, CHIPON-YOURSHOULDER ran well in his previous race when finishing a good third to MUCHO GUSTO in the Prince Consort Stakes on March 17. Having worked well for today's engagement, the son of Alisios-Another Mary should use this as a successful prep for the upcoming Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) over 2000 metres on May 12.

Classic winning jockey Ian Spence again has the ride, as he teams up with the recent 1000 Guineas and Oaks winning trainer Dwight Chen (LADY T) once again.

The main danger to CHIPON-YOURSHOULDER must surely be the Howard Jaghai-trained SIR KUNJABIHARI who looked vastly improved when slamming rivals over the distance in the fairly good time of 1:34.2 on March 17.

Other firm fancies on the card are down-in-class COMIN TRUE to stave off NUMERO UNO in the fifth race over the straight, SEGA in the sixth, PACKHU to catch YYESSBABY and RAZZAK in the eighth and VENOM over ROYAL KINGDOM in the nightpan.