Nuclear Fight faces old rivals in Roderick ‘Pilot’ Francis run
Although the Roderick “Pilot” Francis is the designated midweek feature race, it is, however, the top-rated open Allowance event that will draw great attention and highlight the 11-race programme at Caymanas Park today.
Top-rated four-year-old dark bay filly Nuclear Flight faces her old rivals Peking Cruz and Another Bullet in what is expceted to be a mighty sprinting showdown going the distance of 5 1/2 furlongs (1,100m).
The last time Nuclear Flight met Peking Cruz was on February 13 of this year, with the filly winning the five-furlong (1,000m) straight course by a length over Campesino and Peking Cruz.
However, Nuclear Flight was later disqualified and placed third behind Peking Cruz for causing interference to the latter in deep stretch. Nuclear Flight had gone with 51.0 kgs (112 lbs), while Peking Cruz had 57.0 kgs (126 lbs).
Nuclear Flight and Another Bullet last met on February 23 over 6 1/2 furlongs and once more the filly was a lengthand-a-half winner that day. And again Nuclear Flight was better off at the handicap with 50.0 kgs (110 lbs) with Another Bullet carrying 57.0 kgs, (126 lbs).
Today will be a different story as Nuclear Flight steps up to 53.5 kgs (118 lbs), compared to Peking Cruz’s 57.0 kgs (126 lbs) and Another Bullet coming down to 52.5 (116 lbs) due to apprentice Daniel Satchell’s weight claim, taking off 4.0 kgs. Based on the swing in weights, on paper it looks like Another Bullet should be the winner, but in the sport of horse racing nothing is certain.
The three-year-old and upward event is positioned as the eighth event on the card and has a scheduled post time of 4:00 pm. First race is at noon.
Nuclear Flight tried her luck going long over 7 ½ furlongs (1,500m) on March 9 and performed admirably, where she finished in third position behind Superluminal and Houdini’s Magic. Now, Nuclear Flight returns to a trip to which she is better suited and, if allowed to lead from the one draw, is going to prove very difficult to catch.
Peking Cruz has been competing admirably at the top level but has not been able to find the winning post in front. Peking Cruz and Nuclear Flight have developed a competitive rivalry which should see both giving no quarter today. Peking Cruz’s last run over 6 1/2 furlongs, where he finished in second place behind stable companion Money Magnet, suggests that he will a very tough contender here.
Although beaten by Nuclear Flight on last over a distance which suited him better, Another Bullet is no chicken over sprint distances as he was a length and quarter in front of the filly when they last met over this distance. Another Bullet is now much better off in the handicaps, and with the apprentice shedding even more weight, can atone in this one. Expect Another Bullet to be just off the leaders before making his move in the last furlong.
The rest of the field is made up of Secret Traveller, Bimini, Adonis, Pakman and Exhilarate.
Ones to watch:
Race 1) Jamaican Citizen/bula/ Council Of Trent
Race 2) Roman Spy/captain Granville/connor
Race 3) Lambana/my Son Bates/ April Spirit
Race 4) Big Black Nation/foot Soldier/double Deal
Race 5) Struck By Grace/evasive Action/emperor’s Treasure Race 6) Dyna’s Pride/action Run/ Phenom
Race 7) Sir Jhunjhun Wala/lord Ashton/jamin
Race 8) Nuclear Flight/peking Cruz/another Bullet
Race 9) Fifty Cents/mirabilis/ Willodeen
Race 10) Bad Boy Trump/she’s Symbolic/ricky Ricardo
Race 11) Outrageous/resilient/ Super Mia