Crucial Cat set to slip field

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Having finished second in her last two races, CRUCIAL CAT is tipped to go one better in the 3-y-o maiden special for the Dr Clifford Grey Memorial Cup over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park today.

Owned and trained by Carl Anderson, the grey filly by Crucial Trial out of the Slick Trick mare Chikiney caught the eye when finishing a close second to the useful WAIT AWHILE over 1200 metres on July 24, a race in which she had the subsequent winner, DIVINITY, behind in third.

Last time out on August 7, she chased home hot favourite MERIT'S BRITE LITE in fast splits over 1400 metres.

On the strength of those performances, CRUCIAL CAT, with champion jockey Omar Walker now taking the ride, will prove hard to deny with only 52.0kg.

Her main rivals in the seven-horse field are PAT N GOLD, who was only a neck adrift in third (running on) when beaten by MERIT'S BRITE LITE, the lightly raced DIN'S SENORITA and not least, LESTERAE, with former champion jockey Shane Ellis riding for astute trainer Lawrence Freemantle.

Bigger danger

PAT N GOLD, to again be ridden by journeyman jockey David 'Scorcher' McKenzie for his brother Don McKenzie, is unlikely to beat CRUCIAL CAT over this reduced trip.

A bigger danger to my selection must surely be LESTERAE, who chased home the improving MY LADY at a respectable distance (always prominent) last Saturday in a fast-run 1500-metre race.

However, the split times for that race was much slower than that won by MERIT'S BRITE LITE and CRUCIAL CAT, having been kept on the move at exercise, will be gunning to make all from the number-one post position. She should have enough in the tank to stave off LESTERAE and PAT N GOLD in this small field.

Elsewhere on the eight-race programme, which will see the introduction of an overlapping Super-6 - the first from race one to six and the second overlapping from three to eight - SHE'S MAGIC, who won easily over 1100 metres on August 6, should bring fitness into play and lead home GRACE MARIE and FULL SPECTRUM in the opening race (high claiming) over 1100 metres, to be contested by six starters.

The four-year-old grey filly was claimed out of that race by trainer Dennis Lee for himself and based on that four-length win in the fairly good time of 1:07.2 will prove hard to beat with jockey of the moment, Dick Carde-nas, aboard.

I also like the Lee-trained MISS ATLANTIC STAR to rebound in the third race; ROYAL IMPACT in the fifth; LA'S DANCER in the seventh; and BEYOND THE CLOUDS in the closing race over 1100 metres for maiden three-year-olds.