THE 10th running of the Sports Journalists Of Jamaica Trophy for purse of $92,000 among $350,000 — $300,000 claimers is set to highlight the 12-race card at Caymanas Park today.
Post time for the event is set at approximately 2:15 pm with first post at 12:15 pm.Four other supporting feature races are carded, headed by the $786,5000 Tsetsi ‘Lights Out’ Davis Trophy for Open Allowance runners; the $715,000 Eddie Black Memorial Cup programme opener, a maiden special weight contest for native-bred and imported two-year-olds; the $516,000 Valbert Marlowe Memorial Cup, a Restricted Allowance III for native-bred four-year-olds upward (NW3 O/T), and the $715,000 Track Price Plus ‘Dig-Out’ Handicap, a maiden condition race for native-bred three-year-old fillies, Division II.Probably not the most competitive race on the card the Sports Journalists event has brought some useful under performers together for the 1,200 metres call for three-year-old and upward and native-bred five-year-old (NW3) that could make the event interesting. Based on current form, recent winner Jarreau, now owned and trained by Renex Burrell, must be looked at seriously as a winner. When prepared as a two and three-year-old the Dayton Flyer chestnut gelding promised much but never really materialised into something special with only a solitary win.However, after posting his second win as a $250,000 claimer on last, he looks as though he has found his class at last and even stepping up a bit in claiming scale to $350,000 should not prevent him from following up with another quick win.Jockey Richard Mitchell, who was aboard on last when winning over today’s distance, will continue in the irons. If there is any danger in the field Si Puedo, the mount of the leading jockey Omar Walker, should be it.Now six years old, Si Puedo at this level is no back number as was seen on last when running over today’s distance at the higher level.Prepared by Ryan Darby for S&G Stables, Si Puedo, despite the barrier one draw, possesses enough speed to escape being boxed in, and if allowed to chart the course, could hold on for his 10h career win.Katherinethegreat, the mount of Clive Lynch, and Serious Business with Dane Nelson up cannot be discounted.In the Tsetsi ‘Lights Out’ Davis Trophy penultimate race going 1,820 metres with a post time set at approximate 5:25 pm, a field of six will run. Still to establish himself as a genuine ‘A’ Class campaigner, Commanding Chief pits his obvious class against a good field of Open Allowance horses by heading the handicaps with 57.0kg.Prepared by Everal Francis for Doks Stables, the progressive son of War Marshall out of She Knows Beau (Beau Genius) bred Paul Chen is on the hunt for back-to-back wins and declared without the visors in his attempt to overturn his recent five-year-old debut loss to Reasonable Press.In that defeat Reasonable Press carried 57.0kg to Commanding Chief’s 56.0kg. Going longer today the weight difference favours Reasonable Press, who comes in at 52.0kg benefitting from the apprentice Orlando Foster’s 3.0kg claim, and this could be significant.Jockey Shane Ellis, who has the somewhat onerous task of getting Commanding Chief to the winning post ahead of the field, will not have only Reasonable Press to think about, but also the lightly weighted Uncle Donny to be ridden by the leading rider Omar Walker.The 2,000 Guineas winner of last season was a two-length loser to the bang in form Timeforarms going 1,600 metres. However, with the distance increased, so will be his chances of claiming victory, as he won over the two-turn sprint distance on March 30.Ones To WatchRace 1 Janiboutice (Dane Nelson)Race 2 The Professional (Paul Francis)Race 3 Sirmandi (Paul Francis)Race 4 Cruiser (Richard Lunan)Race 5 Jarreau (Richard Mitchell)Race 6 Shinning Gold (Ruja Lahoe)Race 7 Luminous Trieste (Andre Martin)Race 8 Amanda Panda (Andre Martin)Race 9 Silver Sands (Dane Nelson)Race 10 Bluemountian Man (Jevvanne Anderson)Race 11 Commanding Chief (Shane Ellis)Race 12 Reign Of Deftiny (Dane Nelson) Jockey Shane Ellis takes filly Princess Shaneil to an impressive three-year-old maiden victory going 1,600 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. (PHOTO: HURBUN WILLIAMS)View the original article here
Commanding Chief fancied for Caymanas Park feature
