No stopping Cassanova Boy

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The unbeaten American 4-y-o gelding CASSANOVA BOY goes for win number seven at Caymanas Park today when he takes on five opponents in the Eros Trophy grade-one feature over 1400 metres.

Today's racing marks the first leg of the two-day Easter racing carnival which continues on Easter Monday with the 36th running of the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, the season's first classics, both over 1600 metres.

CASSANOVA BOY steps up to grade-one company today following his easy victory over the 2009 Superstakes winner HOMBRE and the 2007 Derby winner THE BOMBER in the recent Zaleucus Trophy over 1800 metres for open allowance horses.

Among his rivals are last year's Derby winner HE'S REALLY OK, who shoulders top weight of 60.5kg under customary rider Paul 'Country' Francis and the recent winners MINISTEROFJUSTICE and NEW KINGSTON, a stable companion of CASSANOVA BOY.

This quartet should ensure some measure of competition, but if truth be told, it will take a brave punter to oppose CASSANOVA BOY who has won his six races by the combined margin of 35 lengths!

Although finally making it to the top class, CASSANOVA BOY faces only one proven grade-one campaigner in HE'S REALLY OK, who is coming off a recent win in the Legal Light Trophy over 1820 metres. DaCosta thinks very highly of CASSANOVA BOY:.

"He is potentially the best horse in the country and I think his streak will continue for some time. The conditions will suit him fine and in this small field, must be the one to beat despite the presence of He's Really OK."

HE'S REALLY OK has looked razor sharp at exercise coming into this race, but he strikes me as a tough two-turn horse and I doubt he has the pace to live with the free running CASSANOVA BOY over this trip.

MINISTEROFJUSTICE has also trained well since winning over the straight five course on February 20, but now facing a horse of the calibre of CASSANOVA BOY, cannot be given the edge. And the DaCosta-trained NEW KINGSTON, who also won over the straight recently, is considered inferior to stable companion CASSANOVA BOY and, although pretty light with 49.0kg and former champion Wesley Henry aboard, looks second best.

So, it all comes back to CASSANOVA BOY, who is potentially the best horse in the country by far, especially with his illustrious stable companion AHWHOFAH having retired to stud in the past fortnight.

Other firm fancies on the card are RAISE A RUCKUS in the opening race over 1200 metres, RUNE in the second, GREEN HORNET in the 4th, ROYAL MAJESTY in the 5th, PRINCE THEO in the 7th and PRINCE ROHAN in the 8th.