'Minister' to rule in Lotto Classic

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The big Supreme Ventures Limited-sponsored Lotto Classic race meet, which should have been run on Monday, May 24 (Labour Day), but was postponed due to social unrest in the Corporate Area, has been rescheduled for today at Caymanas Park.

Post time for the mammoth 12-race programme is 11 a.m., one hour earlier than the original post time.

The card features the 70th running of the $3.3 million Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup over 2000 metres and is confined to native bred three-year-olds.

This marks the final prep for the Jamaica Derby, originally set for Saturday, June 12, but has been pushed back to June 19.

Of the original 16 slated to run, top weight COLONEL WALES (Winston Griffiths) is a late non-starter, reducing the field to 15.

The field includes the 2000 Guineas runner-up, LIFEISJUSFORLIVING (Omar Walker up), fresh from an impressive fast-time victory over 1200 metres on May 12; stable companion EXCELLENCE (Wesley Henry), who was second over the distance in the recent Oaks; as well as the improving JUNIOR MINISTER (Shane Ellis), who was a fast-finishing third in the 2000 Guineas, failing by a neck to beat LIVEISJUSFORLIVING for second.

Also expected to figure prominently is the Colin Ferguson-trained HEARTOFACHAMPION (Paul Francis), who bids for a hat-trick of wins after trailing home in the 2000 Guineas. There's a lot of stable confidence behind this one.

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, he should take a lot of catching. He's working well and I'm banking on his class now," added the nine-time champion trainer.

Looks real tempting

While LIFEISJUSFORLIVING represents the class, preference is for 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 head on with LIFEISJUSFORLIVING.

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 for today's encounter, 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 the Lotto Dash for native bred two-year-olds.