Junior Minister to rule

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

It's holiday racing at Caymanas Park today, with the mammoth 12-race programme featuring the 70th running of the Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup over 2000 metres, confined to native bred three-year-olds.

Sponsored by Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), the Lotto Classic marks the final prep for the June 12 Jamaica Derby over 2400 metres. Notable absentees are the respective 2000 and 1000 Guineas winners, MARK MY WORD and AL FOUZIA, both of whom bypassed the $3.3 million race to run in open allowance company on Saturday, as well as the Oaks winner GABIWITZO.

Despite their absence, the race should serve as a firm pointer to the Derby, as no fewer than five of the runners have good claims.

They include the 2000 Guineas runner-up, LIVEISJUSFORLIVING, fresh from an impressive fast-time victory over 1200 metres on May 12; stable-companion EXCELLENCE, who was second over the distance in the recent Oaks; as well as COLONEL WALES, who was last season's champion two-year-old and a winter book favourite for the classics before losing his edge; and the improving JUNIOR MINISTER, who was a fast-finishing third in the 2000 Guineas, finishing third by a neck behind LIVEISJUSFORLIVING.

The Colin Ferguson-trained HEARTOFACHAMPION, who bids for a hat-trick of wins after trailing home in the 2000 Guineas, should also enter the reckoning as there is a lot of stable confidence behind this one.

impressive win

Despite losing to MARK MY WORD in the April 5 2000 Guineas at a mile, DaCosta feels that LIVEISJUSFORLIVING, who has won four races from five starts, can atone in light of his impressive win earlier this month.

"He's by far the class horse in the race and having won so impressively last time, it only remains to be seen how he handles the distance," said DaCosta.

"I don't think he ran his best race in the 2000 Guineas. The track was ripped and screened (graded) that day and was extremely slow and I think this affected his performance.

"However, he ran right back to his best recently and if the track rides fast on Monday, he should take a lot of catching," added DaCosta. "He's working well and I'm banking on his class now."

While LIFEISJUSFORLIVING and Percy Hussey's COLONEL WALES (Winston Griifiths up) represent the class, indications are that they will fall to the Anthony Nunes-trained JUNIOR MINISTER, who is not only coming on at the right time but looks real tempting at the weights, with only 51.0kg.

Outpaced in the 2000 Guineas, the bay colt by Coded Warning out of Peace Line made rapid headway to finish five lengths third, almost heads on with LIFEISJUSFORLIVING.

Then a maiden, JUNIOR MINISTER won pulling a bus over 1500 metres when releasing the maiden certificate on April 28 and having caught the eye at exercise in preparation, he must have a grand chance under these favourable conditions.

He looks the type that will truly relish two turns and now at a rapid stage of improvement, his final rattle should prove hard to withstand. He's definitely the pick of the weights.

I also like HONEYOFALADY to upstage the fleet-footed top weight SAINT CECELIA once again in the $1.4 million Lotto Sprint; the recent winner ROMEZ to repeat in the Labour Day Trophy (claiming $550,000-$500,000) over 1200 metres; and the speedy ANNIE OAKLEY to repeat in Lotto Dash for native bred two-year-olds.