Double the Honey a sweet bet

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

DOUBLE THE HONEY, fresh from his recent fast-time win over 1300 metres, should extend his winning streak today when he contests the open-allowance feature - the 10th race - over the straight five course in which seven have been declared.

The classy American four-year-old colt from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta has been allotted topweight of 57.0kg, but this will not deter him with champion jockey Omar Walker again in the saddle.

With the DaCosta stable already in overdrive this early in the season, culminating in a triple on Wednesday, it will take a brave punter to oppose DOUBLE THE HONEY in a race of this nature, given the colt's impressive winning record.

Understatement

To date, he has scored six wins (including the first five) from seven career starts and to say he is going places would be an understatement. His only defeat came on August 28 last year when he was blown away by the classy American filly, RONRON, over 1300 metres in the Seek Exercise Book Trophy, weakening badly to finish 11 lengths fifth.

All was apparently not right with DOUBLE THE HONEY that day, as he subsequently went on a near six-month layoff, returning on February 12 to beat MINISTEROFJUSTICE and PRICELESS BEAUTY with considerable ease.

Now back to his brilliant best, DOUBLE THE HONEY should prove too strong for old rival, BRASH & SASSY and his stable-companion, COMMANDER ZERO.

Although running over the straight for the first time, this will make little difference to DOUBLE THE HONEY, who really impressed at exercise on Sunday morning, clocking a fast 58.4 from the gate - the first four in an eye-popping 45.4.

Winning ways

He should show rivals a clear pair of heels, using this as a stepping stone to grade-one company and another crack at old rival RONRON.

Elsewhere on the 11-race programme, WILD TRADITION is tipped to resume winning ways when she takes on seven rivals in the 4-y-o and up restricted allowance race (non-winners of three other than) over 1100 metres.

The lightly raced four-year-old filly from the stables of Anthony 'Baba' Nunes won her first three races last year, only to be beaten for the first time by SAEED on February 5 when installed as a howling favourite.

She failed by a length to catch the speedy SAEED over the straight course, but has looked razor sharp at exercise since and reverting to the round course, should rebound at the expense of ROLEX.

I also like the three-year-old colt HEBIOUS CORPUS to win the second race over 1300 metres; CENTEYA in the third; MEA CULPA to go one better over 1400 metres in the fourth for maiden three-year-olds; MARK TO MARKET in the fifth; and LIFE GOES ON in the ninth.