Mikenificent for Gladiator Trophy

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The improving American three-year-old colt MIKENIFICENT should improve on his second-place finish to the impressive EMPEROR HALL in the CTL Imported Mile on November 12, by capturing the Gladiator Trophy open allowance feature over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park today.

Trained by Dwight Chen, MIKENIFICENT has progressed along the right lines in recent months, scoring a hat-trick of wins between August 1 and September 17.

By virtue of those successes, the last of which was achieved by seven lengths over 2000 metres in overnight allowance company, MIKENIFICENT was installed a 2-1 favourite for the $1.5 million Imported Mile, but ran smack into fellow American EMPEROR HALL, who won by 10 lengths in the fairly good time of 1:39.1 on a slow surface.

Good horses behind him

MIKENIFICENT, however, had some really good horses behind him that day, notably SIR VON, CASSANOVA BOY, RAISE A RUCKUS, LITTLE WASP and PRICELESS BEAUTY.

He beat the third horse, SIR VON, by 1 3/4 lengths, and back in action and well trained, the son of Indy King-Pearlwood will not be easily denied.

With connections opting for champion jockey Omar Walker, MIKENIFICENT will have to put up 2.0kg overweight for the in-form rider. But he still looks leniently treated with 52.0kg and with the speed horses CLASSIC BEAU, HOMBRE and LITTLE WASP not expected to leave him toiling, his stretch run should prove too much for them.

If there's a danger to MIKENIFICENT, then it must be the 2009 Superstakes winner HOMBRE, who scored an emphatic fast-time victory over this very trip on October 1 in overnight company. The six-year-old gelding ran well for a long way in the recent CTL Superstakes before suffering interference on the inside when vying for the lead at the half mile, eventually finishing a well-beaten sixth to MARK MY WORD.

But trainer Noel Ennevor said the son of Pat N Jac is in good nick for this race and with connections going for 4.0kg claiming apprentice Fabion Jones, reducing the weight to 53.0kg, HOMBRE is definitely the exacta horse, behind MIKENIFICENT.

Meanwhile, the opening high-claiming race over 1200 metres has attracted seven starters and indications are it will come down to a straight fight between SOCA PARTY and PRINCE OF PEACE, both stepping down in class.

Although winless in 16 starts this season, PRINCE OF PEACE (Richard Mitchell up) now dropping down from overnight allowance company to claiming $550,000, has his best chance to win for some time given the watered down opposition. Preference, however, is for SOCA PARTY, who finished third to out-of-class SI PUEDO over the straight five course on a $600,0000 tag recently. Champion jockey Omar Walker has the ride.

I also like WIND CRAFT in the third race, FALL OUT BOY in the fourth, ROJO in the sixth and MERIT'S JET in the seventh.