Samba Dancer to rule in 'Jack' Radix feature

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

SAMBA DANCER and the recent winner MISS ATLANTIC STAR are poised to fight out the finish of today's $180,000 claiming race for the Dr David 'Jack' Radix Memorial Cup over 1820 metres at Caymanas Park, to be contested by eight starters.

The 10-race programme gets underway at 1:20 p.m.

MISS ATLANTIC STAR easily justified favouritism on June 2, slamming FOX MAN and MAZDA POWER by 4 1/2 lengths in a slowly run 1600-metre race when trained by Morris Powell.

The seven-year-old mare was claimed out of that race by veteran trainer Alfred Wright, who still has her in good nick for today's encounter.

With the field - save for SAMBA DANCER - by no means strong, MISS ATLANTIC STAR will only go down fighting from the convenient mark of 52.0kg and competent 3.0kg claiming apprentice Jodeien Anderson, again in the saddle.

The seven-year-old mare by Royal Minister out of Caribbean Slew should be able to take care of FOX MAN and MAZDA POWER once again, but upstaging old rival SAMBA DANCER in a race of this nature looks a challenging undertaking.

When both horses last met over the distance on April 21, SAMBA DANCER, running on a $250,000 claming tag, led home subsequent dual winner MISS ROSE by five lengths over this very trip, with MISS ATLANTIC STAR finishing 8 1/2 lengths back in fourth.

No mistake

SAMBA DANCER, it should be noted, has won three of his last six races, and despite that unplaced effort behind BACK AT YOU over 1200 metres when stepping down to this level on May 29, gets the ideal trip on this occasion and should make no mistake.

The seven-year-old gelding looks conveniently placed in the scales with 55.0kg by virtue of top apprentice Doushane Gordon's 2.0kg claiming allowance and should give first-season trainer Errol Pottinger his first career win.

I am expecting SAMBA DANCER to race in close touch of the expected leaders MR. BIGSHOT and RUN SMILE RUN, before coming through, approaching the final bend.

Elsewhere on the 10-race programme, the course specialist SUGAR'S IMAGE, now dropped in class, should turn back the challenges of the recent winner ROMEZ and PEDRO BLUFF in the $550,000-$500,000 claiming race over the straight five course, in which six starters have been declared.

The field also includes veteran campaigner NASATOL, who bids for his 28th career win - six of these coming this season, including the last three over the straight. But indications are that NASATOL has been aimed too high for this race and both SUGAR'S IMAGE and hat-trick seeker ROMEZ should have his measure, with SUGAR'S IMAGE preferred.

I also like the speedy DEVILISH ISHA to win the fourth; CLASSY COMPANY to repeat in the sixth; PALATINE in the seventh; and LA CHAISE to beat the 2008 record-priced yearling, SI PUEDO, who makes his long-awaited debut over the straight in a field of 16 maiden three-year-olds.