Niphal to outlast rivals in Bigga Oaks

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Thirteen native-bred three-year-olds fillies have a date with destiny at Caymanas Park today, when they face the starter for the 72nd running of the Bigga Jamaica Oaks over 2000 metres.

Top contenders for this, the season's third Classic, are the recent 1000 Guineas winner NIPHAL, with Shane Ellis again riding her for leading trainer Gary Subratie; the Guineas third-place finisher CARIDAD, to be ridden by Allen Maragh for 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny; along with PALACE GOLD and RIGHT MARKER, fifth and eighth, respectively, in the Guineas; and not least, the lightly raced but highly thought of SWEET TRAIL, who missed the April 2 1000 Guineas, owing to a leg ailment.

treasure girl absent

A notable absentee from the lineup is the Guineas runner-up, TREASURE GIRL, who left for Trinidad and Tobago on April 7 to be prepared for the twin-island republic's Triple Crown series. Indeed, TREASURE GIRL, who was trained locally by Subratie, could only manage fifth to the highly fancied colt TOUCH D ROAD in the T&T Easter Guineas at Santa Rosa Park on Easter Monday.

With no TREASURE GIRL around, NIPHAL, who beat her by three-quarter length in a driving finish, will more than likely start favourite to repeat over the longer distance of the Oaks, following in the footsteps of Triple Crown winner ALSAFRA and LADY T in recent years.

Subratie feels NIPHAL will stay the distance if judiciously ridden.

"Put it this way, with Treasure Girl out of the race, Niphal beat her next closest rival (Caridad) by 5¹/² lengths and going forward to the Oaks, her Guineas rivals have a lot of catching up to do," said Subratie.

"Moreover, Niphal is a different horse since she was fitted with the tongue tie.... Having pleased me in her preparation, I really fancy her chances," added the second-generation trainer, who on April 2 posted both NIPHAL and BIG MAN BOYU to win the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, respectively.

Still, Subratie is wary of main rivals SWEET TRAIL and RIGHT MARKER, two lightly raced fillies with tremendous scope, and to a lesser extent CARIDAD, who was running on well for third at the end of the Guineas and should relish the longer distance.

chang for repeat win?

Patrick Chang, who saddled AWESOME POWER to win the race in 2001, will be gunning to repeat with SWEET TRAIL, who has fully recovered from the setback which prevented her from running in the 1000 Guineas.

Chang said the chestnut filly by Tracking out of Brown Sugar has worked well in preparation for the race, galloping seven furlongs in a brisk 1:28.3 last Monday morning.

"She'll be coming to run a big race and my hope is that she will be good enough to pull it off," he said.

Jockey Wesley Henry, however, was more blunt.

"She just can't lose," declared the 1997 champion.

Trainer Noel Ennevor is quietly confident that RIGHT MARKER, under in-form Paul 'County' Francis, will come good. The chestnut filly by Market Rally-Ocean Liner won impressively over 1500 metres in maiden company on her second outing in March and although managing only eighth place in the Guineas, Ennevor said she is now ready to run the race of her life.

To my mind, it should be a highly competitive Oaks, but hat-trick seeker NIPHAL should use her pace to good advantage and stave off SWEET TRAIL and RIGHT MARKER.

I also like the classy LIFEISJUSFORLIVING (working well) to romp the Sam Mahfood Memorial Trophy open allowance sprint; TIME OF STORM in the fourth; EMPE-ROR HALL in the fifth; and QUEEN ADIRA and TERRA MARIQUE in the respective divisions of the Ricochet Stakes.