Sun | Jul 5, 2026

It's Natural Heart

Published:Wednesday | July 21, 2010 | 12:00 AM
SEA TRAVELLER (outside), with Ameth Robles up, getting the better of 2-1 favourite SKIPAWAY PRINCE (Omar Walker) in last Saturday's sixth race over 1000 metres straight at Caymanas Park. The Morris Powell-trained SEA TRAVELLER went off at 5-2. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Eight starters are down to contest the Violet Armond Memorial Cup (claiming $350,000-$300,000) over 1600 metres at Caymanas Park today, among them NATURAL HEART who, on the basis of his consistency, should not be beaten.

The five-year-old gelding, who now takes orders from trainer Robert Darby Sr after being claimed for $325,0000 on June 23, has already won four races from 10 starts this season and, from all indications, is programmed for another win.

NATURAL HEART was brave in defeat on the last two occasions - failing by a neck to stave off THE REAL FURY over this trip on May 29 and coming back to finish a length second, running on, to CLASSY COMPANY over 1500 metres on June 23 when trained by Dennis Lee.

Both near misses were achieved at this level and NATURAL HEART really looks tempting at the weights with only 51.0kg, thanks to the 3.0kg claim of bang-in-form apprentice Jevvanne Erwin.

The dark-bay gelding by Natural Selection out of Heart Throb notched his last win over this trip on May 15 when getting up in time to deny THE REAL FURY by a length, while he had earlier scored twice over 1820 met.

Shrewd trainer

While NATURAL HEART looks best equipped to win, especially under the guidance of a shrewd trainer like Darby, he can expect stiff opposition from the recent winners LATIN KING, LA'S DANCER and BACK AT YOU, as well as SKETEL, all proven campaigners.

Both LATIN KING and LA'S DANCER have beaten NATURAL HEART narrowly over the trip early this season, but NATURAL HEART is a better horse today while his rivals have declined a bit since.

It should be a good race among the quartet, but NATURAL HEART has shown more heart in his races and this should make all the difference.

Meanwhile, lightly raced SOCA PARTY, with female apprentice Georgina Sergeon riding for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta once again, is tipped to go one better in the opening race over 1200 metres for three-year-olds, following her near miss to PRINCE THEO over 1100 metres last Wednesday. She is simply too light with 47.5kg.

Other firm fancies on the card are TOP COMMANDER in the third, FLAWLESS TALENT in the fifth, stable-companion SHE'S ROYAL to outfinish ARIANA in the sixth and WAIT A WHILE to go one better in the seventh race over 1200 metres for maiden three-year-old fillies.