Five for Gold Cup

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Only five horses were declared at the overnight stage for Saturday's 39th running of the Pepsi Gold Cup over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park, the race having lost much of its glamour with the surprise withdrawal of the classy American 3-y-o filly RONRON.

Trainer Gary Subratie disclosed that RONRON developed a temperature in her stall on Tuesday night and this left him with no option but to withdraw her from the $2-million race.

Subratie will instead pin his hopes on last Saturday's fast-time winner over 1100 metres, HAIL THE GENIUS with Dick Cardenas aboard, he said as he explained RONRON's predicament.

High temperature

"We noticed that she wasn't comfortable from early in the week. She wasn't eating as she normally does and something was definitely amiss with her.

"When I examined her, her temperature was unusually high, so the vet was called in and he confirmed that all was not right with her. She was given medication and is being treated as we speak," said the second generation trainer.

Despite her brilliance which saw her winning six of her last seven races, RONRON is not having the best of luck off the track. A fortnight before the November 13 Imported Mile, she sustained a mysterious eye injury, resulting in partial loss of vision in her right eye.

Subratie feels that the vastly improved HAIL THE GENIUS, who was third to SAINT CECELIA (allowing her weight) in the Caribbean Sprint on November 13, should not be underestimated. "He's in receipt of a massive swing in the weights and must have a look-in with the light impost," said the trainer.

The Spencer Chung-trained SAINT CECELIA, under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths, is the ante-post favourite despite topweight of 60.5kg. SAINT CECELIA carried 48kg to victory in last year's Gold Cup beating HONEYOFALADY (49.5) by a neck.