Seven starters have been declared for today's overnight allowance feature, the William Read Memorial Trophy, over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park and, from all indications, the vastly-improved MINISTEROFJUSTICE should take a lot of beating.
Fresh from his record-equalling run over the straight five course on November 22, the three-year-old chestnut colt, by Royal Minister out of the French Champagne mare, Sub Zero, has won three of his past five races and lost few marks in defeat on the other two occasions.
One such was the prestigious Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) Caribbean Sprint Championship over 1200 metres on November 8, in which he stayed on to finish 4-3/4 lengths fourth to the classy three-year-old filly, AHWHOFAH, in grade one company.
MINISTEROFJUSTICE, to again be ridden by in-form Dane Nelson for trainer Michael McIntosh, returns with everything in his favour and, with rivals holding no real terrors, should have little difficulty in putting away overnight allowance horses at this stage.
Practising the distance
He continues to look the part at exercise and, with the distance just perfect, should use his speed to best advantage and lead home TOBAGO, impressive winner of the RJR Classic over 1500 metres on July 12.
Others such as SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS, who ran OUTSTANDING to a neck over this trip on October 18; and the unpredictable IVAN THE TERRIBLE, who finished a close second to ALLIEDFORCE in the grade one Prime Minister's Stakes over 2000 metres on August 6; have the capacity to run well in a race of this nature. But, upstaging MINISTEROFJUSTICE in this small field won't be easy.
Meanwhile, the stretch-running PRINCESS JOYCE gets the ideal trip in the day's secondary feature for the Joseph Armond Memorial Cup over the circular nine course and is tipped to score an overdue win with in-form Trevor Simpson now taking the ride.
Eight starters have been declared for the restricted allowance II Armond Memorial for native-bred three-year-olds (non winners of two) and, in addition to the Phillip Elliott-trained PRINCESS JOYCE, THE REAL FURY, should give her most to do on the basis of her consistency, especially with champion jockey Omar Walker aboard.
Other firm fancies on the card are MISS CREE to go one better in the opening race over the straight-five course; PLEASURE FLIGHT to lead home HONEY BUNNY and THEDIVINEKING in the fourth over 1500 metres; THE GUMMER to repeat in the fifth; and AMERICAN DON to atone for last Saturday's disqualification by winning the closing race over 1200 metres.