Uncle Ken for Supreme Ventures 2-y-o Stakes

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The island's top native-bred two-year-olds are down to contest the 99th running of the Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes, over 1600 metres at Caymanas Park today, the race offering a whopping purse of $4.25 million.

With a maximum field of 16 declared, the race is a fitting showcase to end the 2010 racing season on a high note. It marks the third and final race in the $11.8-million Supreme Ventures 2-Y-O Series, but once again the million-dollar bonus to the horse good enough to win all three races in the series will not be paid out.

The first race in the series, the $2.95m Cash Pat Only One For Me Trophy over 1200 metres on October 16 was won by the Wayne DaCosta-trained filly, FATTY BUM BUM.

Million-dollar bonus

In line for the million-dollar bonus, FATTY BUM BUM was installed favourite for the second race in the series, the $3.6-million Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy over the longer distance of 1400 metres on November 27. Despite a gusty display, she just failed to stave off the fast-finishing UNCLE KEN by a neck after suffering interference at the halfway stage.

Unfortunately, FATTY BUM BUM sustained an injury (cannon bone) in that race and will miss the grand finale.

Despite her absence, the race is worth going miles to see.

UNCLE KEN, who is trained by Gary Subratie for popular owner Kenval Wallace, is gunning to close out the series with back-to-back wins and will more than likely start favourite to follow up.

The bay gelding by Alawad out of Katty Thetraina is up against some tough opponents, but with a mile just perfect, can prove equal to the task.

The rivals

Among his rivals are the Philip Feanny-trained pair of ISNT SHE SOMETHIN and WINNIANA, the Richard Azan-trained duo of POWERED BY WASSY and ERASMO, as well as Morris Powell's pair of JUSTIN ON FIRE and REGAL RUN, along with Robert Pearson's TRADITIONAL PRINCE, LUSCIOUS from the DaCosta stables and the promising SMOKIN MAN, who hails from the small stable of trainer Raymond Townsend.

UNCLE KEN ran on strongly to beat the luckless FATTY BUM BUM by a neck with ISNT SHE SOMETHIN another three-quarter length away third in a close contest for the Super Challenge Trophy on his last outing.

Outpaced into the straight, ISNT SHE SOMETHIN made rapid headway on the inside to finish less than a length away, and this grey filly will love the additional furlong of this race.

Indeed, of all the contenders for this rich prize, ISNT SHE SOMETHIN has looked the most impressive at exercise, galloping seven furlongs in a brisk 1:28.2 recently. A lightly raced sort, she is by Traditional out of the 1990 Oaks winner Millford Sound, and will only go down fighting, with five-time champion Trevor Simpson aboard.

Despite her sound claims, UNCLE KEN, with former champion Shane Ellis riding again, is tipped to maintain his superiority over the filly.

The trainer said: "Despite a slight setback in his preparation earlier on, he has settled down and really pleased me at exercise when breezing seven furlongs in 1:31.2 by 1:16.3 quite easily on Tuesday morning.

"This is a horse with lots of potential and we are not only looking at this race, but at bigger things as a three-year-old next year.

"I am pretty confident in his ability to win this prestigious race, but I am expecting him to receive stiff competition from old rival Isnt She Somethin, who has worked well for the race, and also Powered by Wassy and Justin On Fire, both of whom looked pretty useful when winning last time out.

"All the ingredients are there to make it a good race; some very good youngsters, a large field and a lucrative purse. I fancy my chances, but Isnt She Somethin and Powered by Wassy are live dangers," said the second-generation trainer who, in recent weeks, has posted horses to win the Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy, the CTL Imported Mile (Ronron), the Gold Cup (Hail The Genius) and the Gladiator Trophy (The Chief).

I am expecting the speedy TRADITIONAL PRINCE to carry the field into the straight, before the closers UNCLE KEN and ISNT SHE SOMETHIN get into to gear. UNCLE KEN gets the nod.

Meanwhile, the traditional Boxing Day co-feature for the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup (grade one) over 2400 metres has been abandoned, having received only one entry, GO MY ROBIN.