Cassanova Boy to notch long-overdue win

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Having finished second to out-of-class horses in his last two races, CASSANOVA BOY should score his first win in over a year in the annual renewal of the Owen Silvera Memorial Cup over 1600 metres, at Caymanas Park today.

The 3-y-o and up open allowance race will be contested by eight starters, including CASSANOVA BOY, stable companion LITTLE WASP, THE GUV, RAISE A RUCKUS and the progressive American 3-y-o colt, MIKENIFICENT, who bids for his fourth consecutive win.

American-bred CASSANOVA BOY heads a three-pronged challenge from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, completed by the consistent LITTLE WASP with Georgina Sergeon aboard and the outsider HEART OF GOLD, under five-time champion Trevor Simpson.

Although the free-running LITTLE WASP is expected to prove competitive, DaCosta will pin his hopes on CASSANOVA BOY, with stable jockey Shane Ellis aboard.

Topple rivals

Prior to his near one-year absence from July, 2010 to May of this year due to injury, CASSANOVA BOY has taken his own sweet time to put his act together. Now nearing his best, based on his last running, I am expecting him to topple rivals.

He was highly fancied to win over 1500 metres on September 7, but found the then unbeaten three-year-old gelding, COMMANDING CHIEF, too good, finishing 7 3/4 lengths second in what was a fast-run race (1:31.2).

Prior to that outing on August 27, the son of Najram-Gender Bias finished a close second to out-of-class PRICELESS BEAUTY in the Seek Exercise Book Trophy over 1300 metres, another fast-run race (1:18.3).

With both COMMANDING CHIEF and PRICELESS BEAUTY now classified as grade-one horses, this should pave the way for CASSANOVA BOY to notch his first victory since winning the Viceroy Trophy over 1700 metres (grade one) on July 10 last year with top weight of 60.5kg.

While CASSANOVA BOY gets the ideal race to rebound, he should be wary of the Dwight Chen-trained MIKENIFICENT, who is going from strength to strength and should make it close with only 52.0kg.

Other firm fancies on the 11-race programme are GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY to go one better under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths in the second race, SIMPLY OUTSTANDING in the fourth, REGAL SENSATION to stave off hat-trick seeker LIKKLE BIT in the fifth, KACEY POPS' KID to romp the sixth, and the unbeaten MERU (working well) - now administered Lasix - to lead home the recent course winner SABINA in the 11th race over the straight.

With champion and title contender Omar Walker (70 wins) starting a two-day suspension today, leading jockey Dick Cardenas (76) and second-placed Shane Ellis (72) should combine to dominate the programme.