The 2-1 favourite CHIPONYOURSHOULDER (left), with Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas aboard, is about to sweep past long-time leader ASKAWOMAN (Shane Ellis) in the closing stages of the eighth race over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. Trained by Welsh Soutar, 'CHIPPY' won by three-quarter length from the fast-finishing QUEEN OF MY HEART (out of pic). - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
One of the longest standing sponsored races on the horse racing calendar, the Gold Cup, marks its 37th running over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park today, with a star-studded field of nine facing the starter.
Offering a total purse of $1.5 million, the popular grade one race with a long and colourful history, is being sponsored by Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) for the third consecutive year.
The legendary KILOWATT, ridden by lightweight jockey Cleveland Suckie for trainer Valbert Marlowe, won the inaugural running in 1967, when it was then known as the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup and repeated the feat the following year.
KILOWATT came back to win the race for a third time in 1970 and remains the only three-time winner.
Wide field
Today's field includes the November 8 Superstakes winner AD INFINITUM, along with AHWHOFAH, who won the recent CTL Caribbean Sprint Championship over 1200 metres, the runner-up OUTSTANDING, MEDICAL REPORT, one of the season's top sprinters, along with the useful MUCHO GUSTO, dual classic-winner RUM TALK and also ENGLISH STORM, an upset winner of the CTL Imported Mile on November 8.
All the ingredients are there to make it an intriguing contest but, from where I stand, the one to beat must surely be the classy three-year-old filly, AHWHOFAH, to be ridden by champion jockey Omar Walker for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.
AHWHOFAH came from just off the early pace to wear down another talented filly, OUTSTANDING, close home in the Caribbean Sprint, having the likes of MEDICAL REPORT (seventh) and MUCHO GUSTO (10th) soundly beaten.
Despite the sound claims of OUTSTANDING, AHWHOFAH is expected to have her measure over the additional furlong of this race.
Both MEDICAL REPORT and MUCHO GUSTO are expected to get closer at the revised weights but turning the tables on the free-running AHWHOFAH won't be easy.
The Anthony Nunes-trained AD INFINITUM, bidding for a hat-trick of big race wins following the Governor General's Stakes and Superstakes - both over 2000 metres - will have his share of supporters, even with top weight of 57.0kg.
However, he is unlikely to catch the fleet-footed AHWHOFAH at these weights, especially with the trip reduced.
The imported horses SMOOTHABILITY and ENGLISH STORM have good speed and are sure to figure prominently but neither is as classy as AHWHOFAH.
It all comes back to the talented bay filly by Royal Minister-Executive Profile, who has not only impressed in her preparation but has secured a perfect draw on the outside as well.
Impressive running
What's more, AHWHOFAH is yet to lose in two races over the distance, having won the valuable Thornbird Stakes (Guineas Trial) when getting up in time to beat subsequent Triple Crown winner ALSAFRA and again on July 19 when leading home THE GUARDIAN.
Prior to the latter race, she was most impressive in a fast-time win over 1300 metres, covering the distance in near track record time of 1:17.1 in scoring by 7-1/2 lengths.
With a lot in her favour today, AHWHOFAH ought to be followed with only 51.0kg. I am expecting her to race in close touch of the expected leaders OUTSTANDING and SMOOTHABILITY, before coming through in mid-stretch.
Other firm fancies on the card are THE GUARDIAN to tag HOMBRE in the second race, ROLL THE DICE in the sixth, BUCK THE MINISTER in the seventh and speedy GOOD SENSE over TWENTY NINE in the third over the straight course.