Space Fury set to unleash staying power

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Only eight races are slated for Caymanas Park today, the programme featuring the Long Shot Trophy (claiming $180,000) over 1300 metres, along with the $450,000-$400,000 claming race over 1820 metres.

With the programme smaller than usual, post time has been pushed back to 2:10 p.m.

The field for the $450,000 claiming race includes recent winners GUAN YU, and LATIN KING who romped the Altamont V. Armond Memorial Cup over 2000 metres on February 12 and now steps up in class.

In addition to the two recent winners, others that can be brought into the reckoning are the ante-post favourite SPACE FURY, now dropped in class, and THE GUMMER.

THE GUMMER, who failed by a short head to beat BRUCEONTHELOOSE in the 2000 Guineas over a mile in April 2009, is an interesting entry.

Titanic tussle

This race marks the eighth for THE GUMMER since his titanic tussle with 'Bruce', but the 5-y-o son of He'stherealthing-Executive Profile proved difficult to train after the Guineas, missing both the Derby and St. Leger as a result.

Lately, however, THE GUMMER seems to be regaining form and, with the tongue tie fitted for this race, the Wayne DaCosta-trained 5-y-o gelding should make it close.

However, THE GUMMER will have to go through SPACE FURY from the stables of back-to-form trainer Fitzroy Glispie.

This five-year-old gelding finished only two lengths second to COUGWAY over the distance behind a fast time on November 3 when running for $550,000. Despite that below par effort behind THE GREYT DOCTOR over a shorter trip on November 24, has been put down and reprogrammed for this race.

With the possible exception of THE GUMMER, SPACE FURY - who was also a classic contender in 2009 - is basically a better horse than this level.

Last win

Indeed, the son of Spacelink scored his last win over 2000 metres in overnight allowance company (Kenneth Mattis O.D. Trophy) on September 11 last year, beating the likes of RUNNING LOOSE, QUICK & GREY, MAJOR MAYER and ENGLISH STORM.

Having worked well in preparation for this race and now dropped in class, the free-running SPACE FURY will not be easily denied from the convenient mark of 52.0kg will in-form claiming apprentice Richard Mairs aboard.

Mairs and Glispie should team up once again to win the closing race for the Long Shot Trophy with back-to-form PROGRESSIVE, who got through in the Stewards' Room on January 22 following the disqualification of narrow winner ROYAL IMPACT over 1200 metres.

ROYAL IMPACT is back and, along with the recent winner MR. BUTCHER and FIRST EDITION, should ensure that PROGRESSIVE is extended in the 16-strong field.

I also like recent winner PRINCE ROHAN to repeat in the first race; GO GO YVONNE in the third; GEYSER SPRING in the fourth and WAR HERO in the fifth.