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Orville Clarke

Gleaner Writer

Among the three trophy races at Caymanas Park today is the $715,000 Richard Ashenheim Memorial Cup, to be contested by 10 native bred maiden two-year-olds over 1500 metres.

The 10-race programme also features the $450,000-$400,000 claiming race for the Paul Newman Memorial Trophy over 1600 metres, to be contested by 14 starters; and the restricted allowance II for the Joseph Armond Memorial Trophy over 1820 metres, which is confined to three-year-olds (non-winners of two).

Of the 10 youngsters declared for the Richard Ashenheim Memorial, SIR SOUTH from the stables of Gordon Lewis is racing for the first time, but although pretty active at exercise and apparently of worth, needs more time.

Of the others, ZARA, ACTUS REUS (Lasix on), STORM WATCH, REGAL RUN and POWERED BY WASSY have shown potential, especially the latter, who hails from the in-form stables of trainer Richard Azan.

This dark bay colt by Outrigger out of Lady With A Tude has shown promise in two races so far, the more recent on November 12 when finishing four lengths fourth to LUSCIOUS in the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup over 1400 metres.

Minus the blinkers on that occasion, POWERED BY WASSY, with stable-jockey Dick Cardenas again in the saddle, raced prominently into the straight, staying on to finish heads on with the third horse, INVICTUS, who came back to chase home the Azan-trained ERASMO in the Andrew H.B. Aguilar Memorial Cup over 1600 metres last Saturday.

Stepped up at exercise and with the visor fitted for this race, POWERED BY WASSY, who races in the silks of former champion owner, Alexander Haber, should make no mistake with Cardenas again in the saddle. He looked fluent at exercise on Sunday morning when breezing seven furlongs in 1:34.1 easily, the last six in 1:18.2.

too strong

With his preparation complete and his opponents not as forward in condition when compared to him, POWERED BY WASSY should prove too strong for ACTUS REUS, under in-form Dane Nelson, and REGAL RUN.

The Joseph Armond Memorial Trophy will more than likely resolve itself into a straight fight between the free-running filly DIVINITY and the lightly raced WILLINSTON, who should be cherry ripe for this race following his good second to PAT N GOLD over 1500 metres on November 6 when apprentice-ridden.

Preference is for the Noel Ennevor-trained WILLINSTON, who is sure to benefit from the stronger handling of Paul 'Country' Francis on this occasion.

I also like GUAN YU to go one better at the expense of recent winner MOJITA JAM in the Paul Newman Memorial Trophy, to be contested by 14 starters; MARVELOUS LADY in the first race; BRASH & SASSY in the third; RUSSIAN COMMANDER in the fourth; and HACKLETON in the closing Alex's Imports Dig Out Handicap.

Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

ERASMO (front), with Dick Cardenas up, powers away from the field to win the Andrew H. B. Aguilar Memorial Trophy, an event restricted to two-year-olds, at Caymanas Park last Saturday. ERASMO finished two lengths clear of INVICTUS (out of photo) and WAR HERO (centre) who placed third, a further two lengths back.