Saint Cecelia too light to lose

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Champion sprinter SAINT CECELIA looks the one to beat when she takes on the likes of top-rated RONRON and the vastly improved DANCE WITH ME in the annual renewal of the She's On Wheels Trophy grade one feature over 1100 metres at Caymanas Park today.

Trained by Spencer Chung, SAINT CECELIA is coming off an impressive fast-time win in the Reggae Trophy over the straight on July 9 when equalling the track record of 56.2 for the distance.

On that occasion, she led home the American-bred filly DANCE WITH ME by 2¹/⁴ lengths, and now back to her best form, will not go down easily from the convenient mark of 53.0kg and former champion jockey Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry aboard.

She faces two strong opponents in RONRON and DANCE WITH ME, and another progressive sort in LIFEISJUSFORLIVING, who steps up to grade one company after winning his last three races.

Although the Wayne DaCosta-trained RONRON beat SAINT CECELIA into third place when they last met over the distance in the Lotto Sprint Trophy on May 21, it should be recalled that she dissipated her chances by walking out of the starting gates that day.

She did well in the circumstances to grab the lead early in the straight, only to be denied by the closing rush of RONRON and DOUBLE THE HONEY, who pipped her for second.

SAINT CECELIA, however, gave every indication that she's back to her brilliant best when slamming DANCE WITH ME in the Reggae Trophy with 56.5kg, and providing she breaks cleanly, should have the measure of RONRON based on their Lotto Sprint performances.

Don't underestimate

Trainer Gary Subratie, who recently saddled his 300th winner when EXPLOSIVE REPORT won on August 10, believes DANCE WITH ME will make her presence felt and should not be underestimated.

"She has improved all season and although SAINT CECELIA has worked brilliantly and my one-time stable star RONRON represents the class horse, DANCE WITH ME is light enough to ensure a close finish," said Subratie.

But they all have the super-fit five-year-old mare SAINT CECELIA to beat. She's working too impressively to lose, clocking a fast 1:05.3 for 5¹/² furlongs on Monday morning, the last five in 58.4.

Other form fancies on the card are NUBIAN QUEEN in the second race, COUGWAY in the third, LEMONADE in the fourth, LUSCIOUS in the fifth, along with TIME OF STORM in the seventh and CRUISER in the eighth over 1600 metres.