It"s a Superior Quality for Sweet Ruckus Trophy

BY HURBUN WILLIAMS Observer writer

Saturday, December 27, 2014    

THE competitiveness of the Christmas two-day racing festival continues today at Caymanas Park with an entertaining 10-race card headlined by the annual renewal of the Sweet Ruckus Trophy.

A Graded Stakes call for native-bred and imported two-year-olds going 1,400 metres for a purse of $1.3 million, the Sweet Ruckus — one of two competitive two-year-old races on the programme — opens the card at noon. The other juvenile event is the Stewards Cup.

A maiden special weight dash for colts and geldings, the Stewards Cup is the third race on the programme and has attracted a small field of six going 1,000 metres round for a purse of $715,000.

While the winner of the Stewards Cup will most certainly go to a native bred, that of the Sweet Ruckus could go to the imported colt Superior Quality. A fighting winner on debut going 1,200 metres, Superior Quality could pretty well run out an easy winner once again as his 1:13.3 for 1,200 metres looks way outside the scope of any of his rivals which makes winning going farther a mere formality.

Despite this, however, Harry Parsard, who trains for owner Ian Parsard, has not extensively prepared Superior Quality for his second outing. He instead has chosen to add the figure 8 to his charge’s other racing equipment of tongue tie and lasix, a move with a probable view to keep the colt’s focus on his racing.

Parsard has another three runners in the line-up but the main danger to Superior Quality with Omar Walker remaining in the saddle is the Patrick Chang-trained Lady Sangeeta, to be ridden by Shane Ellis.

Parsard has another strong entry in the penultimate ninth race where Boy Wonder will also start as favourite for the Open Allowance call.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Superior Quality (Omar Walker)

Race 2 Jack The Charmer (Shamaree Muir)

Race 3 Supertronics (Robert Halledeen)

Race 4 Vibes Master (Prince Holder)

Race 5 Eastwood (Devon A Thomas)

Race 6 King Diamond (Richard Mairs)

Race 7 Believe (Aaron Chatrie)

Race 8 Explosive Princess (Prince Holder)

Race 9 Boy Wonder (Omar Walker)

Race 10 Tropicaldepression (Shamaree Muir)

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It"s a Superior Quality for Sweet Ruckus Trophy

Sherwood Forrest take inaugural Ashley T10 trophy

WINDSOR, Portland — Sherwood Forrest on Sunday captured the inaugural Ashley T10 cricket title at Windsor playing field when they defeated hometown favourites Ginger House by 50 runs.

Batting first, Sherwood made 116 for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 10 overs, as Richard Hewitt topscored with 34 runs and Raymond Hanson added 15, with Davian Patterson bagging three wickets for 19 runs and Craig McLean, capturing two wickets for 31 runs. Ginger House, in reply, could only muster 66 runs for the loss of nine wickets, as only Delroy Carter and Davian Patterson got into double figures with 11 each, while Roger Gregory took two wickets for eight runs and Shain Haye added two wickets for 13 runs.

The competition was organised by Kevin Taylor, in an effort to keep the game of cricket alive in the community. He commended the seven teams and the communities for their support. The games were played on Sundays and were double-headers.

The winning team was presented with the Ashley T10 trophy by 11-year-old Ashley Taylor, for whom the competition was named, and $15,000 from the mayor of Port Antonio and councillor. Ginger House won $10,000 for placing second.

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Sherwood Forrest take inaugural Ashley T10 trophy

Raging Prospect makes easy work of New Year"s Day trophy race

ON a day dedicated to honouring the fans of racing, Raging Prospect, under a collected ride from top apprentice Shamaree Muir, easily won the feature event, the Caymanas Track Limited Fan Appreciation trophy over 1,820 metres.

The five-year-old chestnut gelding by He’stherealthing-Raging Fury, after being close to the leader Miracle Star for much of the race, made a decisive move three furlongs out and was never in danger of losing, winning in a time of 1:55.1 minutes. Second went to Miracle Star with Exotic Gold third, but the second and third placing were later reversed by the stewards of the race meeting. Raging Prospect, who is trained by Fitzroy Glispie, won by eight lengths.All Correct, after only one appearance in 2013, returned to racing with a bang under the astute guidance of jockey Dick Cardenas to win the 1,300 metres (6 1/2 furlongs) New Year’s Day trophy event.Having spent most of his time on the farm last year, All Correct, trained by Wayne DaCosta, finally released some of his three-year-old promise with a dogged performance, as after being harassed for most of the stretch drive by the in-form Piscean Rocket, held on to win by a neck in a respectable 1:19.1 minutes. Princess Shaniel, who prompted the early pace, was third.The distinction of winning the first race of the season went to Safe Passage, ridden by champion jockey Dane Nelson and trained by young conditioner, Nicholas Edwards.The new year proved to be one of promise for apprentice rider Sadiki Blake, who rode the first winner in his career, which started in September of 2012, when he won on the 53/1 chance Pocket Money in the day’s ninth race, section two of the McKay Security Limited trophy.“This is a real joy for me. I have been trying for so long and I have waited and waited, then it happened. I am so happy, and what a way to start the new year. Ah happy, really happy,” an emotional Blake said after returning to the winners’ enclosure. The first section of the McKay trophy race was taken by Cause For Concern ridden by Richard Mitchell.At the end of the first day of racing for 2014, Dane Nelson rode two winners (Safe Passage and Valid Image), as did Omar Walker (Locked and Loaded and Anntrack) and Dick Cardenas (Double De Honey and All Correct).Champion trainer DaCosta saddled two winners, Double De Honey and All Correct. Raging Prospect as easy as can be with Shamaree Muir winning the CTL Fan Appreciation trophy at Caymanas Park, yesterday. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)

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Raging Prospect makes easy work of New Year"s Day trophy race

Insane Bolt for Terremoto Trophy

A field of six will go postward in the $845,000 Terremoto Trophy sprint headlined by Insane Bolt at Caymanas Park today.

The Restricted Allowance II race for native-bred two-year-olds, going 1,000 metres round will highlight a 10-race card and is scheduled to goto post at approximately 2:25 pm.Insane Bolt, a bay colt by Shuffling Madness out of Golden Olympic (Olympio) bred by YS, (1955) Ltd, running for only the third time, will start as the morning line favourite, but will do so with certain amount of trepidation from two first-time winners: Filly Blade Runner, who defeated him when they both made their debuts going 600 metres straight on June 15, and another filly, the very well-bred Woman Is Boss.Neither of these combatants have ridden the bend as yet, but that will not be a problem for them, so it just remains to be seen which will show the most improvement.With the two-year-old season looming, some amount of firework is expected from these three good-looking juveniles, who are bred for speed. Prepared for the races by the leading conditioner Wayne DaCosta, Insane Bolt, to be ridden by Dick Cardenas, and is from the Golden Olympio line who are blessed with good early speed should have little problem continuing his winning ways. The Shuffling Madness colt has already demonstrated that he is no sloth, and even riding the bend for the first time could make a statement as to what prospects he holds for the future.Despite being beaten by Blade Runner on debut, it is Woman Is Boss, who could turn out to be his most serious threat.The well-bred filly by Traditional out of She’s On Wheels (Bates Motel) bred at Ham Stables and owned by Andrew Nunes (Agent) put on a gutsy performance while winning on debut going 400 metres straight after being slowly into her strides on May 25. Like both Insane Bolt and Blade Runner, Woman Is Boss moved impressively in her preparation for her sternest test to date. Her trainer Gary Subratie, who has just captured the Trinidad and Tobago Derby and the T&T Oaks with Jamaican-bred horses, Bigman In Town and Perfect Day, respectively, must be primed to continue his winning attitude at home.Leading jockey Omar Walker, who missed out on leading Bigman In Town to victory in Jamaica in the 2,000 Guineas and the Jamaica Derby will definitely want to make it close for Subratie with Woman Is Boss.Ones To WatchRace 1 Legendary Pleasure (Omar Walker)Race 2 Alyssa’s Call (Winston Griffiths)Race 3 Sir D (Omar Walker)Race 4 Miracle Run (Andre Martin)Race 5 Insane Bolt (Dick Cardenas)Race 6 Swiss Account (Richard Mitchell)Race 7 Rio Cobre (Dick Cardenas)Race 8 Joker Card (Aaron Chatrie)Race 9 Border Line (Dane Nelson)Race 10 Christmas Gift (Jevvanne Irwin)

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Insane Bolt for Terremoto Trophy

Take Prescription in Grooms" Association Trophy

DALE Murphy’s consistent colt Prescription, who loves the 1,000 metres straight course, looks certain to register his third victory on the trot over same when he steps down in class to contest the $492,000 Grooms’ Association of Jamaica Trophy claiming feature at Caymanas Park today.

Fresh from victories at $350,000 and $500,000 claiming spreads, respectively, earlier in the months of May and July, the four-year-old colt whose five career wins have come over the course, is strongly favoured to complete a hat-trick of wins.The Grooms’ Trophy race has attracted a competitive field of 13 in the $350,000 – $300,000 (three-year-olds and upward and native-bred five-year-olds (NW3) dash and has a post time set at approximately 5:10 pm with first post at 12:15 pm.Owned and trained by Murphy, Prescription, who steps down in grade with 57.0kg will shed some of his burden by the presence of 3.0kg claiming apprentice Romario Saunders to come in at a handy 54.0kg. He won on this tag at this weight on May 13, but was then ridden by the champion jockey Dane Nelson.While it is a much easier field than the grade above, Prescription, who is drawn at barrier #2, is expected to face good opposition from Emergence, ridden by leading jockey Omar Walker, who is drawn alongside at barrier #1.Prescription, notwithstanding his good form, has never been able to complete a hat-trick of wins. And with other worthy challengers to provide wholesome rivalry in the inconsistent but potent Jaylen, the hard-running six-year-old grey mare Soca Party, the imported four-year-old bay filly Lady Foreman and Pappa D, achieving a third win on the trot could prove somewhat slim.Ones To WatchRace 1 Janiboutice (Dane Nelson)Race 2 Jack De Charmer (Dick Cardenas)Race 3 Minnie Sunshine (Percy Williams)Race 4 Sandbath (Ameth Robles)Race 5 Exotic Gold (Dick Cardenas)Race 6 Captain DJ (Paul Francis)Race 7 Storm Watch (Marc Griffiths)Race 8 Western Music (Orlando Foster)Race 9 Pretty Eyes Sanaa (Richard Lunan)Race 10 Prescription (Romario Saunders)Race 11 Tatty’s Bad Gal (Paul Francis)

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Take Prescription in Grooms" Association Trophy