Feanny colt ready to Raise A Ruckus

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

RAISE A RUCKUS, who ran well for second behind the classy MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE in the recent Ash Wednesday Trophy, should win today's 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park, in which 11 starters have been declared.

Trained by 14-time champion Philip Feanny, the progressive American 4-y-o colt finished a clear second on his seasonal debut in the fast-run Ash Wednesday Trophy over 1300 metres, despite suffering interference from CONCORDE'S DANCE at the start.

Now better for the run, his first since winning easily over 1820 metres in a good time last October, the son of Graeme Hall out of the Bold Ruckus mare Likely Ruckus will not be easily denied from the convenient mark of 53.0kg, with in-form Dick Cardenas aboard.

RAISE A RUCKUS ended last year with a bang, winning his last three races with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths in the saddle.

He will find today's trip ideal and given his strong mid-race pace, should take command from early in the straight and lead home the Wayne DaCosta-trained SKITTLE QUEEN, a stretch running American 5-y-o mare who will now have the services of the champion jockey Omar Walker, and MACHISMO, who though not winning races has been a model of consistency having finished third in the Ash Wednesday Trophy.

The 11-race programme, which kicks off at 12:15 p.m., also features the annual renewal of the Clifford Stewart Memorial Cup (claiming $250,000-$210,000) in which the recent winner STEEL DE CAT from the stables of Carl Anderson looks all set to repeat.

scoring easily

The six-year-old gelding stepped down from a $450,000 claiming tag on March 5 to score easily over 1100 metres on a $250,000 tag. He won like an out-of-class animal ahead of the very fit PEDRO BLUFF and not even topweight of 57.0kg should stop him from repeating at this level.

STEEL DE CAT has secured a perfect draw on the outside of the 16-horse field and should prove too strong for the front-running BIG BARGAIN, EXPRESS TRAIN and FLORENCE, all fit enough to fight.

Other firm fancies on the 11-race card are HARLAN'S DANCER (knocking at the door) to catch recent winner WINCHESTER in the opening race over 1600 metres; RAISING ASHLEY ahead of PRINCESS DECIE in the fourth; ESQUIRE to stave off MERIT'S BRITE LITE in the fifth; DANCING GOLD to go all the way in the sixth; and MEELO over FLAGAMAN and the fleet-footed CLASSICAL BULLET in the seventh.