Heart of Gold for GG Stakes

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The two-day Heroes Racing Carnival continues this afternoon at Caymanas Park, with the annual renewal of the Governor General's Stakes over 2000 metres taking the spotlight.

In addition to the $1.3 million grade one feature for three-year-olds and up, the well-supported 11-race programme serves up the Ace Supercentre Trophy, an overnight allowance race over 1820 metres, to be contested by 12 starters; and the $915,000 Hi-Pro Stables Choice Feeds Trophy, for native bred maiden two-year-olds, to be run in two sections.

The GG Stakes, in contrast, has attracted only six starters, but despite the small field, it shapes up to be an interesting contest.

Occupying pride of place at the top of the scales is the 2008 Superstakes winner, AD INFINITUM, who bids for his third consecutive win in this race, having won it for the first time under the crushing impost of 60.5kg in 2008.

Triple Crown winner

Well beaten by HOMBRE and Triple Crown winner MARK MY WORD in his last two races, AD INFINITUM has been taken to task at exercise in preparation for this race and with none of the big guns such as CASSANOVA BOY, HOMBRE, THE GUV, RONRON, MARK MY WORD or even SHANGHAI PASS present, can prove equal to the task with apprentice Doushane Gordon reducing the weight to 58.5kg.

Good arguments can also be put across for the two-turn horses, HEART OF GOLD, HE'S REALLY OK and GO MY ROBIN, who earlier this season (May 10) won the grade one Bonnie Blue Flag Trophy over 1820 metres.

While having every respect for AD INFINITUM, the one best equipped to win this lucrative race must surely be HEART OF GOLD, to be ridden by champion jockey Omar Walker for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.

The five-year-old mare was not really disgraced when she finished third to THE GUV and RONRON in the recent Bob Mayall Memorial Cup (grade one), which saw the winner clocking a fast 1:37.0 for 1600 metres.

HEART OF GOLD finished in a time of 1:39.0, which was not bad against the two superstars and with neither of them present today, gets a glorious opportunity to resume winning ways.

Watered-down field

She has looked well, enjoys two-turn races and having won three races over the circular nine course, will not go down easily in this watered-down field.

HEART OF GOLD should race in touch of the expected leaders HE'S REALLY OK and RIVER STYX, before making her winning move leaving the half-mile.

Elsewhere on the programme, the much-improved American colt, CHINA CROSSING, should complete the hat-trick at the expense of UNDAUNTED (fitter) and RUNNING LOOSE in the Ace Supercentre Trophy, while the improving UNCLE KEN and the well-forward debutante, JUSTIN ON FIRE, should win the respective divisions of the Hi-Pro Stables' Choice Feeds Trophy for maiden two-year-olds over 1300 metres. Eleven will run in both divisions.

I also fancy Courtney Walsh's filly, TREND SETTER, to catch the speedy MIRACLE RECOVERY in the ninth; BULLET LINE in the 11th; and KISSING CHRISSY to win the opening Norman Manley Memorial Cup (claiming $250,000-$210,000) over the round five course.