Mark My Word hard to oppose

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Reigning Horse of the Year, MARK MY WORD, goes for his second grade-one success of the season, when he opposes six opponents in the $1.1 million feature for the Viceroy Trophy over 1800 metres.

The outstanding 4-y-o colt from the stables of Richard Azan won the Bonnie Blue Flag Trophy over 1820 metres on April 23, but had to work overtime in order to beat THE GUV by a short head in a thrilling finish.

With the imported horses having a lock on grade-one races for the most part, MARK MY WORD will need to make full use of opportunities like today.

None of the big guns such as RONRON and MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE are present, and now pitted against the second eleven, so to speak, MARK MY WORD, the 2010 Triple Crown winner, is confidently expected to defy top weight of 59kg.

He was far from disgraced on June 11 when finishing four lengths fourth to the impressive American colt, MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE, in the fast-run Real Vibes Party Wine Sprint over 1300 metres, this over a trip short of his best.

MARK MY WORD continues to move impressively at exercise, and with the distance now ideal, looks hard to oppose with champion jockey Omar Walker again in the saddle.

Under a cloud

Looking for the exacta horse could present a problem. Both HEART OF GOLD and GO MY ROBIN won in grade-one company last year, but they have been under a cloud and a better proposition must be the Gary Subratie-trained American horse, BURST OF ENERGY, who was 7 1/4 lengths fourth to PRICELESS BEAUTY over 1500 metres last Saturday.

So it's MARK MY WORD to win from BURST OF ENERGY, with HEART OF GOLD closing out the trifecta.

Also on the card is the 3-y-o and up open-allowance race for the Caribbean Racing Confederation Trophy over 1100 metres; and the annual renewal of the $350,000- $300,000 claiming race for the Sports Journalists of Jamaica Trophy over 1200 metres, to be contested by 11 starters.

The Caribbean Racing Con-federation Trophy race, which coincides with the mid-year meeting of the Confederation in Ocho Rios from June 23-26, should come down to a straight fight between the classy American horses DOUBLE THE HONEY (working well) and the vastly improved DANCE SO SWEET, who were beaten by RONRON and MISMYTRYLEBOYRICHIE, respectively, last time out.

The Gary Subratie-trained DANCE SO SWEET pushed MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE to the hilt over 1300 metres recently and now in receipt of 4kg from Wayne DaCosta's DOUBLE THE HONEY, is given the edge.

I also like the consistent MEELO, to stave off old rivals SHE'S MAGIC and KRYPTORAM in the Sports Journalists of Jamaica Trophy race; MAJOR MAYER, to repeat in the third; TURBINE, in the fourth; ACTUS REUS, to stave off IAN'S GOLD, in the sixth; and RHEA ON TOUR, in the eighth.