Samba Dancer for todd Memorial

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Back-to-form SAMBA DANCER should score an overdue win, when he opposes six rivals in today's Caymanas Park feature race over 2000 metres for the Monica Todd Memorial Cup, confined to $180,000 claimers.

The seven-year-old gelding, who now takes orders from in-form trainer Ryan Darby, failed by a head to catch MR BIGSHOT over 1400 metres on September 11, when closing rapidly over the final 100 metres.

With MR BIGSHOT having paid tribute to the form in winning Race No. 3 in the CTL Claiming Series over 1300 metres by all of 10 lengths last Friday in better company, SAMBA DANCER should follow suit today.

Subsequent winner

The dark bay son of Latin Charm-Mekamara reports with everything in his favour. He carries a mere 50.0kg by virtue of apprentice Jevvanne Erwin's 3.0kg claiming allowance, and is all of 3.0kg better off with main rival EARTHWINDANDFIRE, who finished behind him in third, in the race won by MR BIGSHOT.

What's more, SAMBA DANCER won going two turns (1820 metres) quite easily on April 21, leading home subsequent winner MISS ROSE (one of his opponents today) by five lengths.

Now back to his best and running from an in-form stable, SAMBA DANCER, who bids for his fourth win of the season, should make no mistake.

I am expecting him to race just off the pace that should be set by CHING SING and EARTHWINDANDFIRE, before outfinishing the latter and MISS ROSE for a decisive win.

I also like SKIPPING BOY to win the first race for two-year-olds; YES WE WILL in the fourth; HIGH SOCIETY in the fifth; FREE FALL in the sixth; MY LADY in the seventh; and HIGH ROLLER in the closing Alex's Imports 'Dig Out' Handicap (claiming $250,000-$210,000) over the straight five course.