Lord Admiral to have a blast

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Fourteen starters have been declared for the annual renewal of the Master Blaster Trophy race over the straight five course, feature event at Caymanas Park today.

A restricted allowance III (non-winners of three other than) for four-year-olds and up, this moves into the spotlight after the scheduled grade-one feature, the Bonnie Blue Flag Trophy over 1820m, had to be abandoned due to insufficient entries.

The nine-race programme also includes the $250,000-$210,000 claiming race over 1200 metres for the Clifford Stewart Memorial Cup to be contested by 10 starters, including down-in-class JUST A CAT who, with a mere 51.5kg, should lead home FRENCH ROGUE.

Winningest local horse

Fourteen have been declared for the 'Master Blaster' run in honour of the popular '90s campaigner who holds the distinction of being the winningest horse in the history of local racing, with 34 triumphs.

The field includes top contenders LORD ADMIRAL, MEELO, the recent course winner REGGAE ROCK, IT IS WRITTEN, FLAGAMAN, EXPLOSIVE REPORT, BEAUTIFUL SPACE and RISK REWARDS.

Incidentally, there was a redraw for post positions on Thursday morning after the Wayne DaCosta-trained, IT IS WRITTEN, was inadvertently left out at the overnight stage.

MEELO was highly fancied to win over 1200 metres on April 24, but disappointed badly in finishing eighth.

Trained by Richard Azan, the consistent four-year-old colt, who was narrowly beaten by FEE FI FOE over the course on April 3, had a valid excuse for that below-par effort, having experienced traffic problems from the number-one post position.

He has worked well, however, and can definitely rebound.

MEELO can expect very stiff competition from LORD ADMIRAL, EXPLOSIVE REPORT and FLAGAMAN, now better for the recent pipeopener.

The one I like best is LORD ADMIRAL, who could be deemed an unlucky loser on April 24 when finishing third in a blanket finish to SHE'S MAGIC over 1200 metres.

Always prominent, LORD ADMIRAL blew his chances when drifting out badly approaching the distance under the apprentice Jodeien Anderson, finishing on the stands' side a mere length away.

The one to beat

From the in-form stables of Norman Palmer, the four-year-old colt by Law Of The Sea out of Princess Ellen won his previous race over 1200 metres on April 10 by three lengths from PATARA and PALATINE. Having worked well on Monday morning, he looks the one to beat from the convenient mark of 52.0kg and competent 3.0kg claiming apprentice Jevvanne Erwin aboard.

I expect him to lead home MEELO, EXPLOSIVE REPORT and FLAGAMAN.

I also like the 2007 Derby winner, THE BOMBER, to win the third race; CLASSICAL BULLET in the fourth; KADORA in the fifth; THE BEST MAN in the sixth; and OVATION to give the oldest jockey at Caymanas Park, 60-year-old David 'Scorcher' McKenzie, a rare win, in the seventh.