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'Prince' set to prevent a 'Ruckus'

Published:Saturday | October 23, 2010 | 12:00 AM
MERIT'S BRITE LITE, with Dick Cardenas up, surges through early in the straight and against the rails past long-time leader, PAN N GOLD (M. Grant), as he made his winning move in the Cash Pot 'Canter' Trophy, race number eight for 3-y-o and Up over 1800 metres, at Caymanas Park last week Saturday. MERIT'S BRITE LITE won by nine lengths. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The stretch-running PRINCE ROHAN looks light enough, with only 49.0kg, to win the 3-y-o and up restricted stakes for the Royal Dad Trophy over 1820 metres at Caymanas Park today, despite his below-par effort when last raced on September 25.

From the in-form stables of Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, the three-year-old gelding by Crucial Trial out of Pretty Dan-Dan was installed a firm favourite - at odds of 6-5 - for a 1600-metre race a month ago, but threw in a clinker to finish last but one to PRINCESS AMOYA in a nine-strong field.

Indications are that something went amiss with PRINCE ROHAN that day, as he was a distant last at the half mile and passed only one horse to finish 14 lengths adrift of the winner.

front-running favourite

Prior to that on September 15, PRINCE ROHAN came from well off the pace to be beaten half a length by the front-running favourite, RAISE A RUCKUS, over today's trip, a race in which it was widely believed he was given too much to do by apprentice Aaron Chatrie and arrived a trifle late.

PRINCE ROHAN renews rivalry with the Philip Feanny-trained American three-year-old colt, RAISE A RUCKUS, and with a change of rider in the Panamanian Dick Cardenas, is back with a real chance of turning the tables on 4.0kg better terms in a field of seven.

Having won his last two races, RAISE A RUCKUS should start a firm favourite with leading all-time jockey, Winston Griffiths, again in the saddle. However, he has been allotted topweight of 57.0kg on this occasion and while having the pace to go wire-to-wire, PRINCE ROHAN is expected to turn the tables from the convenient mark of 49.0kg.

The race is not necessarily confined to this pair, as the Tony Kirlew-trained PRINCESS AMOYA (improving), the Feanny-trained MY BREDREN and Richard Azan's ROLEX should ensure keen competition.

winning effort

The latter failed by a head to catch repeat winner, BELOW THE WAIST, over 1400 metres on June 12 and last time out, finished a close third to CHINA CROSSING over 1700 metres and is overdue for a winning effort.

However, with Cardenas electing to ride PRINCE ROHAN over ROLEX, the hint should be taken.

PRINCE ROHAN has looked fluent at exercise in his preparation and this bay gelding, who finished second to LIFEISJUSTFORLIVING in the May 24 Lotto Classic and third to Triple Crown winner MARK MY WORD in the July 10 St. Leger, is definitely the pick of the weights, especially going two turns.

I also like ROLL THE DICE to win the third race; THE KING AND I to stave off SHE'S MAGIC in the fourth; GENERAL CURLIN in the fifth; SUPER CENTRE in the sixth; and WINNIANA in the seventh.