Sat | Jan 17, 2026

Uppa Tune to upstage El Poderoso

Published:Saturday | March 1, 2014 | 12:00 AM
MENTALIST (right), with Trevor Simpson aboard, powers away from the Shane Ellis-ridden EYESOFGLORY (left) and ARMY OFFICER, to register a 41/4-length victory in the seventh race for 5-y-o & up non-winners of two over 1000 metres, at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. - Colin Hamilton/Photographer

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

With no trophy at stake on today's nine-race programme at Caymanas Park, the open allowance sprint takes the spotlight with an intriguing clash between the American-bred horses EL PODEROSO and UPPA TUNE.

The two old rivals should carry the bulk of the betting in a seven-horse field and although KIPLING WEEKEND and PETE'SWILDONE could keep them honest for a long way, it's definitely between EL PODEROSO, under champion jockey Dane Nelson, and UPPA TUNE, with Richard 'Bya' Mitchell again in the saddle.

When both horses last met over the straight five course on February 8 in the race won by DOUBLE THE HONEY, the Ian Parsard-trained UPPA TUNE finished a close second while the then favourite EL PODEROSO from the Philip Feanny camp finished 1 3/4 lengths fifth after leading for the first 600 metres, with EDISON just behind in sixth.

The two principals renew rivalry on identical terms - one kilo apart.

EL PODEROSO is perfectly drawn on the inside at post position one and, providing he comes away sharply, could make all. But UPPA TUNE has matching speed and I see them turning for home almost heads apart.

Versatile and consistent

Who will prove stronger up the lane?

I think UPPA TUNE will gain the upper hand in the last furlong, as this versatile and consistent five-year-old horse can definitely defy topweight of 57.0kg. The late-kicking EDISON, who finished only 21/2 lengths adrift of DOUBLE THE HONEY recently, should close out the trifecta.

Elsewhere on the nine-race programme, THE CHOSEN ONE, with Mitchell aboard, is tipped to go one better in the third race over 1100 metres for maiden three-year-olds.

Eleven have been declared, including first-time runners BAD BOY JUSTIN, LA MADRINA, PRIME DIRECTIVE, DA JACKAL and VERY CRAFTY.

Trained by Stedman Curtis, THE CHOSEN ONE showed good speed when chasing home BUTLER'S CABIN over the straight on February 16 and, having been kept on the move at exercise, gets the nod over the DaCosta-trained EASY PROSPECT, who returns well refreshed after whipping around at the start on his recent debut.

I also like HE'STHEREALTHELINKS in the fourth race, BLACK THORN in the fifth, ONE CREATOR in the sixth and REASONABLE PRESS to stave off old rival JACK DE CHARMER in the seventh over 1500 metres.