Perfect Neighbour for Governer General’s Stakes
Perfect Neighbour (left), ridden by Jockey Linton Steadman, getting the better of Long Running Train (partly hidden), ridden by Aaron Chatrie in the 53rd Running of the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup on Boxing Day, December 26, 2015, at Caymanas Park.
THE ANNUAL renewal of the mile and quarter Governor General’s Stakes grade one race is the principal feature at Caymanas Park today, and this should provide the country’s top stayer, PERFECT NEIGHBOUR, with his third consecutive lien on this trophy.
The 2013 Derby and St Leger winner from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta reverts to his pet distance after failing to impress behind BUZZ NIGHTMARE in the recent None Such Sprint, this after missing the break. But he is truly focused for this Superstakes prep, with leading jockey Omar Walker aboard, and looks the right choice.
Having worked well in preparation for this race, galloping six furlongs in 1:14.0 at exercise recently, PERFECT NEIGHBOUR is the most accomplished in the six-horse field, and although set to give 6.0kg to the 2015 St Leger winner SUPERLUMINAL, his proven class should see him through.
HERCULEAN EFFORT
Also on the 11-race programme is the inaugural running of the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race over a mile for the Errol ‘Big Sub’ Trophy, in memory of the late trainer who died last year.
It would be fitting to see BLUE DIXIE coming out on top in the eight-horse field, seeing that he is trained by the son of Errol Subratie, Gary Subratie.
But is would take a Herculean effort from BLUE DIXIE to win this race, given the presence of the classy 3-y-o filly PINELOPE and two-time ‘Horse of the Year’, TYPEWRITER, who races for the first time since Boxing Day of last year, but will report well trained.
Despite this, it could be asking too much of TYPEWRITER to snap the winning streak of a race-fit PINELOPE, who steps up in class with a mere 49.0kg and apprentice Dane Dawkins again riding for trainer Patrick Fong.
Following her near track-record run over 1700 metres recently, PINELOPE, who now bids for the hat-trick, is definitely going places, hence it will take a brave punter to oppose her in present frame of mind.
Other firm fancies on the cad are VALLEY OF QUEENS to win the third race over 1200 metres, COPPERFIELD in the fourth, JUNIOR DON in the sixth, PRINCE KAMALI in the eighth and JDA in the ninth.