'Missmyrtleboy' to extend streak

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The impressive American colt, MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE, goes for his seventh win in a row at Caymanas Park today, when he takes on seven rivals in the open allowance race over 1820 metres.

Also on the card is the 40th running of the City of Kingston Centenary Cup (high claiming), to be run over 1600 metres and contested by eight starters, including hat-trick seeker TOBAGO and his old rival THE GREYT DOCTOR.

TOBAGO completed back-to-back wins on March 9 when staving off the then favourite, THE GREYT DOCTOR, by 11/2 lengths over this trip. Back in action from the convenient mark of 53kg, the evergreen 10-year-old gelding, TOBAGO, should give trainer Welsh Soutar and in-form apprentice Richard Mairs their third consecutive win.

THE GREYT DOCTOR and former Superstakes winner MAJOR MAYER are twin dangers.

Open allowance

MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE, who recently won the Ash Wednesday Trophy in a fast time over 1300 metres ahead of subsequent winner RAISE A RUCKUS, steps up to open allowance company in a bid for this trophy, and it will take a superlative performance to snap his winning streak with customary rider Omar Walker aboard.

Already, the Tony Kirlew-trained 'MISMYRTLEBOY' (working well) looks a champion in waiting, and the fact that he has been winning his races in fast times stamps him as something special.

He steps up in class with a mere 51kg and, although yet to win going this far, is still hard to oppose in present frame of mind. His obvious danger must surely be the progressive American colt, BURST OF ENERGY, from the in-form stables of Gary Subratie.

After winning the Fan Appreciation Day Trophy over 2400 quite convincingly on New Year's Day, BURST OF ENERGY has run some good races in defeat, finishing a close third to CLASSY PROSPECT in the valuable Kings' Plate over 1500 metres on February 26. He should welcome a return to two turns and looks a safe exacta with MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE.

Elsewhere on the programme, which commences at 1:15 p.m., old rivals EMERGENCE and SAN ANTONIO should have the finish to themselves when they meet again in the third race (non-winners of two) over the straight five course, to be contested by 10 starters.

Both won their only races over the straight, but with SAN ANTONIO now asked to carry topweight of 57kg, preference is for the Fitznahum Williams-trained EMERGENCE, who is in receipt of 3kg from Richard Azan's colt. EMERGENCE will again be ridden by Richie Mitchell.

I also like TRIAL LAWYER in the fourth, ISNT SHE SOMETHIN in the fifth; the well-forward three-year-old debutante MAAS LUARIE in the sixth; and the lightly-raced RIGHT MARKER (working well now) in the eighth.