Latin King poised to rule

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Super fit LATIN KING is tipped to win the annual renewal of the Altamont V. Armond Memorial Cup (claiming $350,000-$300,000) feature over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park today by virtue of his consistency.

A winner of nine races last season, the eight-year-old horse from the stables of Welsh Soutar has lost twice in driving finishes so far this season. But now dropped in class, he seems poised to resume winning ways with back-to-form female apprentice Georgina Sergeon aboard. She rides him from the convenient mark of 51.0kg.

In his first race of the season on January 8, LATIN KING failed by a neck to catch HE'S A DREAMER over 1600 metres on a $450,000 claiming tag. Then next time out on January 22, he finished a close-up third to GUAN YU and HE'S A DREAMER over 1820 metres, this on a $500,000 claiming tag.

live contenders

Now reunited with Sergeon, who has won several races with him in the past, LATIN KING will not go down easily, even with the 12-horse field boasting several live contenders such as SINGINGINTHERAIN, THEDIVINEKING, RIFLEMAN, MOJITA JAM, LA'S DANCER and not least, the Patrick Lynch-trained KOKOPELLI CAT, who has been programmed for this race.

Of the above-mentioned, SINGINGINTHERAIN and THE-DIVINEKING, both proven two-turn horses, are twin dangers in a race of this nature. Strictly at the weights, however, it should be LATIN KING.

Elsewhere on the programme - which commences at 12:40 p.m. - nine starters are down to contest the three-year-old and up overnight allowance race over 1820 metres and indications are it will come down to a three-cornered tussle among VONALMIGHTY and the stable companions LITTLE WASP and CHADMAN, all ideally suited to the distance.

The Wayne DaCosta-trained LITTLE WASP advertised her well-being on January 1 when finishing a good second to the progressive American horse BURST OF ENERGY in the Fan Appreciation Trophy over 2200 metres. Prior to that, he was not beaten far by PRIME MINISTER in the Ace Supercentre Trophy over 1820 metres on October 18.

LITTLE WASP returns

Back in action with a mere 48.0kg and Sergeon aboard, LITTLE WASP is confidently expected to fight out the finish. She can be stopped by the Richard Azan-trained VONALMIGHTY, one who has beaten better in the not-too-distant past.

VONALMIGHTY could only manage seventh to the out-of-class CLASSY PROSPECT over 1200 metres last Saturday, a distance well short of his best. The five-year-old son of Western Classic will welcome the longer distance and based on his close second to HEART OF GOLD in the grade one Governor General's Stakes over 2000 metres last October, he is given the edge.

I also like the unbeaten 4-y-o filly WILD TRADITION to make it four straight in the first race; THEREALPRINCE in the fourth; TECHNOMOTO in the sixth; and THE MESSENGER (blinkers on) to rebound in the eighth.