Radical for midweek feature
SUPREME VENTURES Racing and Entertainment Limited stages its first midweek meet since taking over the Caymanas Park racing complex on March 7, the well supported 10-race programme featuring the inaugural running of the Monday Morning Trophy over 1400 metres to be contested by 15 native bred three-year-olds.
Offering a total purse of $780,000, the race is being run in honour of the 1987 Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner. MONDAY MORNING, who won the 2000 Guineas while he was conditioned by trainer Stanley Findlay and the derby and St Leger after he was transferred to the stables of Enos Brown by his owner.
With a large field and good form present, keen competition is anticipated. However, I
narrow it down to the quartet of RADICAL from the stables of leading champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, MALACHI with former champion Dane Nelson riding for trainer Gresford Smith, and the fillies EMPRESS HALL and LADY FAYE, who has finished second to some good horses in her last two races.
With champion jockey Omar Walker and his guv’nor, Wayne DaCosta, enjoying a tremendous run in feature races this season, RADICAL could well start favourite and justify the support. The son of Fearless Vision – Nishtel’s Annette won easily over this trip in the good time of 1:26.3 on February 11 and subsequently finished 31/4 lengths fifth to stable-companion FEARLESS SAMURAI in the valuable Prince Consort Stakes over the distance on March 18.
EARLY PACE
In the latter race, RADICAL was not the best away and unable to go the early pace as a result, But he stayed on from below the distance and was not disgraced in finishing fifth. With nothing of the calibre of FEARLESS SAMURAI present, RADICAL who has good pace, should race in touch of the expected leader EMPRESS HALL into the straight before gaining the upper hand. He should hold on grimly from the late-running grey colt MALACHI, who after winning decisively on his debut over 1300 metres some weeks ago, came back with a big effort in defeat when finishing 13/4 lengths second to DONTAE over 1500 metres on March 4.
Other firm fancies on the card are BALAZO, who bolted off the track on his debut six months ago when having race one in the Front Runner series at his mercy, to romp the opening race for maiden three-year-olds; SIR LEYLAND HALL in the third, WILL IN CHARGE in the fifth as well as HOLOGRAM SHADOW in the sixth, BOUNCE in the seventh and CHACE THE GREAT in the overnight allowance sprint.