Treasure Girl set for Sprint

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The three-year-old campaign leading up to the season's first classics - the 1000 and 2000 Guineas on April 2 - kicks off at Caymanas Park today with the $715,000 Eight Thirty Sprint to be contested by 14 native bred maiden three-year-old fillies over the straight five course.

Coming from this large field, a quartet of horses should decide the outcome, namely - LIVE WATER and TREASURE GIRL, along with debutantes MY HEARTBEAT and DANCING GOLD.

Although racing for the first time, both DANCING GOLD, from the stables of Howard Jaghai and MY HEARTBEAT from the stables of 14-time champion trainer, Philip Feanny, have been coming along nicely at exercise and should make favourable first impressions.

Well-bred bay filly

A chestnut filly by Western Classic out of Millenium Princess, DANCING GOLD, who was bred by the Y.S. (1955) Limited, is the first offspring of her dame, while MY HEARTBEAT is a well-bred bay filly by Homing Instinct out of Rhythm of My Heart, owned and bred by Lakeland Farms Limited.

It will be interesting to see how they fare, especially MY HEARTBEAT, whose dame won the 1000 Guineas in 1999.

I believe the promising TREASURE GIRL will provide in-form trainer Gary Subratie with yet another trophy race success after a tremendous run in the last two months.

TREASURE GIRL caught the eye on her January 1 debut when finishing five lengths third to JET SETTER in a fast-run 1100-metre race (1:06.4).

She raced prominently to have every chance when looming on the outside from the quarter pole, but failed to carry through the effort and would have gained immensely from that initial experience.

Indeed, Subratie feels TREASURE GIRL is in with an excellent chance after that run on New Year's Day.

Fast-run race

"Although finishing third, she pleased me with that performance, considering it was a fast-run race and she was beaten only five lengths on her debut and had Live Water seven lengths behind in the process," said the second generation trainer.

"She has worked a minute over the straight already and having looked improved in her preparation for this race should make no mistake.

"If there's a danger to my horse, it would have to be Philip Feanny's first-time runner My Heartbeat who, I understand, is fairly forward in condition," added Subratie.

In the past two months, Subratie has won the Gladiator Trophy with THE CHIEF, the valuable CTL Imported Mile with RONRON, the $3.65 million Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy with UNCLE KEN, the Pepsi Gold Cup with HAIL THE GENIUS and the Fan Appreciation Day Trophy with BURST OF ENERGY.

Other firm fancies on the card are THERE GOES JUSTIN in the first race for three-year-olds; ROLEX in the seventh; MARHABBA over FULL SPECTRUM in the eighth; and SHE'S SMOKIN to stave off SKITTLE QUEEN in the ninth for open-allowance horses.