Palace Guard to lock away 2-y-o feature

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Maiden two-year-old fillies take the spotlight at Caymanas Park today when 14 of them face the starter for the Winnie Anglin Memorial Cup feature race, this over the round-five course.

The field includes seven first-time runners and, despite the speedy SKIPPING MICHELLE having shown worthwhile ability in six races to date, indications are victory will go to one of the newcomers.

Judging from their preparation, it will more than likely come down to the pair of PALACE GUARD and LUSCIOUS, both well forward in condition.

PALACE GUARD, to be ridden by in-form Dane Nelson for ex-jockey Fitzroy Gliespie, is a medium-built chestnut filly by Region Of Merit out of the Royal Minister mare Royal Guard. She is bred for speed and, having shown a fair amount at exercise, could get off the mark immediately.

Fight out the finish

LUSCIOUS, on the other hand, hails from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and will be ridden by champion and leading jockey, Omar Walker. She is an attractive bay filly by Storm Craft out of another Royal Minister mare, Royal Pizzaz.

She galloped five furlongs at exercise in 1:02.1 on September 10 and, with that under her girth, should fight out the finish, but PALACE GUARD is preferred.

Eight starters are down to contest the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race over the straight and from the look of things, it promises very keen competition.

Here, Walker and DaCosta team up with the struggling five-year-old gelding THE GUARDIAN, who is without a victory in seven starts this season. However, he got significantly closer when finishing a fair fifth to THE CHIEF on the round course and could get significantly closer.

Those with more appeal are the stable-companions REAL MINISTER and WORKING IMAGE, along with ROMEZ, all fully effective over the course.

Good field

Bang-in-form trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes holds a strong hand with REAL MINISTER (Aaron Chatrie) and WORKING IMAGE (Dane Nelson), both focused on the task at hand.

Preference is for the progressive three-year-old chestnut colt, REAL MINISTER, who has won two of his last three races under 2.0kg claiming apprentice Chatrie.

The son of Royal Minister ran on strongly to beat a good field of three-year-olds over the round-five course when last raced on August 25. And prior to that, he outfinshed MOMENT OF HOPE over the straight in restricted company.

Although stepping up to overnight allowance company, REAL MINISTER is fast improving and should prove equal to the task with 52.0kg.

I also fancy veteran campaigner NASATOL to notch his 29th career win in the second race over the straight; KISSING CHRISSY in the fourth; GRAND CABARET in the sixth; and the course specialist, MEDSTAR, to stave off SON OF INDIA and THAT'S MY MARKET, in the closing straight five race, No. 28 in the Alex's Imports Dig Out Handicap series.