Mark My Word will deliver

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Triple Crown winner, MARK MY WORD, should make a triumphant return to Caymanas Park today when he takes on eight opponents in the annual renewal of the 3-y-o and up open allowance race for the Owen Silvera Memorial Cup - the day's feature - over 1600 metres.

The classy three-year-old colt from the stables of Richard Azan reports fit and ready for battle following a two-month respite and running on the convenient mark of 52.0kg, under customary rider Dick Cardenas, he should make no mistake.

Incidentally, the plan was to let MARK MY WORD take his chance in the Trinidad Derby on September 25, but this failed to materialise when his connections did not get the necessary funding.

According to part owner Randy McLean, with Trinidad no longer on the radar, MARK MY WORD will start his campaign leading up to the November 13 Superstakes today.

"That his main objective," said McLean. "Only one horse has won the Triple Crown and the Superstakes and that was THE VICEROY in 1989. Several horses such as SIMPLY MAGIC, MILLIGRAM, WAR ZONE and ALSAFRA have tried to accomplish the feat, but it remains elusive.

"MARK MY WORD has the class to go on to win the Superstakes and the journey begins on Saturday. He has worked well in preparation for this race and although he's up against some useful campaigners such as SHANGHAI PASS, MINISTEROFJUSTICE and SKITTLE QUEEN, he will be hard to beat," said McLean.

Judging from his initial effort in open allowance company on May 22, when beaten in a blanket finish by HOMBRE and THE GUV over 1820 metres, MARK MY WORD is indeed the right choice.

But he will need to be at his best against such tough opponents as the consistent American horse, SHANGHAI PASS, who is coming off a win in the grade-one Prime Minister's Stakes on August 6; the versatile MINISTEROFJUSTICE; and stable companions HEART OF GOLD (working well) and SKITTLE QUEEN, both conditioned by champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.

SKITTLE QUEEN, who goes with a mere 47.5kg with customary rider Georgina Sergeon aboard, was a fast-finishing second to the classy RONRON in the recent Seek Exercise Book Trophy race over 1300 metres and could prove the biggest danger to MARK MY WORD, with the light impost intact.

I am expecting MARK MY WORD to take up where he left off in July. He looked sharp at exercise on Monday morning when breezing seven furlongs in 1:29.1 and with his preparation complete, should stalk the leaders SHANGHAI PASS and MINISTEROFJUSTICE into the straight before moving into overdrive.

I also like MR. JUMBO in the second race; BROTHERLY LOVE in the third; PRINCESS AMOYA in the fourth; QUICK AND GRAY to stave off the late-kicking RUNNING LOOSE in the Kenneth Mattis O.D. Trophy, secondary feature over 1820 metres; and FACE TRACKER in the nightpan.