Quiet Knight set to strike

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

QUIET KNIGHT, who won by the proverbial city block over 1600 metres on October 18, is tipped to repeat when he takes on mostly out-of-form rivals in today's Caymanas Park feature (claiming $350,000-$300,000) for the Alty McKenzie Memorial Cup, again over 1600 metres.

Bang-in-form champion jockey, Omar Walker, is again slated to ride the 4-y-o son of Skipping-Mekamara, who won with topweight of 57.0kg in the fairly good time of 1:41.4 on a $180,000 tag.

Although stepping up two classes to vie for this trophy, QUIET KNIGHT was such an impressive winner that his chances must be rated highly. Reason being that some of his more proven opponents like RULE BY SECRECY, PASSA PASSA, IL CAIMANO, HEY TRAIN and BLONDIE BLONDIE all ran poorly on last, ensuring that QUIET KNIGHT will enter the reckoning in a big way.

He will have the front-running CLASSY COMPANY to contend with, however, as this four-year-old filly should make a brave bid.

Still, PASSA PASSA was denied a trouble-free run from the number-one post position when finishing seventh to ALEXANDRA'S SPIRIT over 1200 metres last Wednesday and given this milder pace, can definitely come into his own. The same is true of the 2007 Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) winner IL CAIMANO, who runs from a different barn today, having been claimed out of his last race by that shrewd trainer Lawrence Freemantle, who has won with him in the past.

Scope for improvement

QUIET KNIGHT, however, still has more scope for improvement and with his fitness not in doubt, seems capable of following up from the convenient mark of 52.0kg. He should win from PASSA PASSA and CLASSY COMPANY.

Elsewhere on the card, LIKKLE BIT should score a long overdue win when he takes on seven rivals in the $550,000-$500,000 claiming race over 1820 metres.

Trained by ex-jockey Tensang Chung, the America-bred five-year-old gelding was not beaten far by the rank outsider, PRIME MINISTER, over the distance in the Ace Supercentre Trophy (overnight allowance) on October 18, running on mildly to finish 7 1/2 lengths seventh in what was a fast-run race.

High claiming

Now dropped from overnight company to high claiming, LIKKLE BIT will not go down easily, despite the presence of the September 11 Kenneth Mattis Trophy winner over 2000 metres, as well as COUGWAY (regaining form) and SINGINGINTHERAIN. Last year's Superstakes winning jockey, Andre Martin, will ride him from the convenient mark of 54.0kg.

I also like NUTTIN BUT ZKAIRA to catch YES WE WILL in the second race over 1500 metres for maiden three-year-olds; SHEISAMAHARANEE in the fourth; HACKLETON (working well) in the sixth; and MARLEE'S MERIT in the closing Alex's Imports 'Dig Out' Handicap over 1500 metres, in which 13 bottom-of-the-barrel claimers have been declared.