Tue | Jan 27, 2026

Doctor Devious set to rebound

Published:Saturday | March 3, 2012 | 12:00 AM
The highly fancied 3-y-o filly ANTOINETTE (left), ridden by leading jockey Dane Nelson, staving off the favourite MEROVINGIAN QUEEN (Ian Spence) to win the seventh race over 1300 metres for maidens at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. The winner, a 7-5 chance, is conditioned by champion trainer Wayne DaCosta. She was racing for the first time.- Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Horses from the $550,000-$500,000 claiming spread are down to contest the 40th running of the City of Kingston Centenary Cup over 1600 metres, to be contested by 12 starters.

This race was inaugurated in 1972 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the City of Kingston as the capital of Jamaica. On that occasion, the race was won in a driving finish by OUT YOUNDER, ridden from off the pace by the legendary George HoSang for trainer Michael Silvera.

Today's race should be no less competitive, what with an abundance of good form present in the likes of LIKKLE BIT under topweight of 57.0kg, DOCTOR DEVIOUS, AWESOME MARQUE, PRIME MINISTER, PRINCESS AMOYA, MOJITO JAM, HAIL THE GENIUS and recent winner ERGASIA.

The latter made all convincingly over the distance on February 22 when leading home topweight LIKKLE BIT by 31/4 lengths.

ERGASIA, with 3.0kg claiming apprentice Ansel Dancel replacing leading jockey Dane Nelson, won in the good time of 1:40.3, and although facing slightly tougher opposition, should make a brave bid from in front.

DOCTOR DEVIOUS, who also beat LIKKLE BIT by 11/4 lengths over a mile on December 24, has been a model of consistency. He was beaten into fourth place (close up) by old rival LIKKLE BIT on February 18, but is definitely the pick of the weights with 52.5kg and title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis replacing 'Hall of Famer' Winston Griffiths, who would have to go with a kilo or two overweight to retain the ride.

The five-year-old gelding from the stables of Wilfred Chin has held his form really well, and coming from a favourable draw on the outside of the field, can definitely resume winning ways.

LIKKLE BIT, who was claimed by Gary Subratie out of his last race, has been a model of consistency and along with ERGASIA, the back-to-form AWESOME MARQUE and PRINCESS AMOYA, under leading jockey Dane Nelson, should ensure stiff opposition for my selection, DOCTOR DEVIOUS, who won't be far off the pace.

fast-time winner

Elsewhere on the nine-race programme, the progressive American 3-y-o colt RIO COBRE (Nelson up) should make it five-in-a-row in the open allowance sprint to be contested by six starters.

Despite having to shoulder topweight of 57.0kg, RIO COBRE definitely has a touch of class and should prove too good for fellow American DA BOOM, a recent fast-time winner of the St Catherine Cup over 1100 metres at the January 29 Sunday meet.

I also like WINCHESTER to resume winning ways in the first race over 1100 metres, NOON IT IS in the third, CRUISER in the fourth, DI COBRE in the fifth and SIR VALIANT in the closing straight-five race.