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Super Dave to outsprint rivals

Published:Saturday | May 28, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Front, from left: SWEET TRAIL, JET SETTER, TECHNOMOTO and MAAS LAURIE hold prominent positions, shortly after the start of the Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup for native-bred 3-y-o at Caymanas Park last Saturday. The Omar Walker-ridden ERASMO (partly hidden at rear, between TECHNOMOTO and MAAS LAURIE) won the event by three lengths. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Despite the presence of two trophy races on today's 11-race programme at Caymanas Park, the focus of attention will be the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race over the straight-five course, to be contested by nine starters.

The field includes top contenders SUPER DAVE, SARAGOSSA and ANTIOCH, all of whom were beaten by the outsider ROMEZ in the Easter Sprint Cup over 1100 metres on April 25, as well as JAYLEN, who is fully effective over the straight.

After careful consideration, I believe it will come down to a straight fight between SUPER DAVE (Dane Nelson up) from the stables of Patrick Lynch and the Anthony 'Baba' Nunes-trained 3-y-o colt SARAGOSSA (Dick Cardenas).

Both have not only shown a particular liking for the straight, but run from the convenient mark of 52.0kg.

When they met recently in the Easter Sprint Cup over 1100 metres, SUPER DAVE finished a good second after galloping past the furlong pole a clear leader, while SARAGOSSA finished 53/4 lengths sixth.

Both PRINCE OF PEACE (third) and ANTIOCH (seventh) were not beaten far that day either, but with SUPER DAVE now back over his pet trip and nicely off at the weights, I am expecting him to confirm his superiority over the fleet-footed SARAGOSSA, who has already won twice over the straight this season in sub-minute times.

SARAGOSSA, by Saint Appeal out of Pretty Sammy Girl, has tremendous scope and should return a better animal today. But six-year-old SUPER DAVE is as tough as they come, and having retained much of his speed, the son of Royal Minister-Mississippi Train will not go down easily.

Well-prepared

Based on his three lengths second to LIFEISJUSFORLIVING over the course in a fast 57.1 on February 16, a race in which he led for 700 metres, it should be SUPER DAVE.

I also like the well-prepared SUPER CENTER (looks tempting at the weights) to beat TIME OF STORM, CALL FOR A CAT and EVER BLESSED, in the Henry George Harrison Sr Memorial Cup, to be contested by the maximum 16 starters over 1300 metres.

The Eddie Black Memorial Cup 2-y-o race, to be contested by six youngsters (all debutants) over 600 metres straight, should see BLAST THEM AWAY from the stables of Wayne DaCosta and EL PODEROSO from the in-form stables of 14-time champion trainer, Philip Feanny, in a duel to the death.

Both have impressed at exercise and are extremely well forward. Preference is for BLAST THEM AWAY (Dane Nelson up), who looked that much sharper when going through his paces from the gates last Sunday morning, galloping three furlongs in 34.3.

I also like POCKET MONEY (second race), TOBAGO (fourth), MADIBA (sixth), RIGHT MARKER (10th) and PEDRO BLUFF (11th).