Under a strong ride from five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson, THE GREYT DOCTOR (No.13) overhauls the favourite FIRST LADY (Omar Walker) to win the seventh race over 1200 metres, in a driving finish, at Caymanas Park last Saturday. He was a 9-2 chance. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
The first mid-week meet for 2009 is on at Caymanas Park today, the eight-race programme featuring the Mercury Sprint maiden condition race for three-year-old colts and geldings over the straight five course.
With only eight races scheduled, post time has been pushed back an hour later to 2 p.m.
Nine starters have been declared for the feature, among them four newcomers in TWIST OF FATE, stable-companion CIO MOTO, IT IS WRITTEN and MAN A YARD.
Although the pair of YOJIMBO and JOHNNY APPLESEAD have shown worthwhile ability in a number of races to date, indications are that victory will go to one of the debutants.
The three that matter are TWIST OF FATE under in-form Dane Nelson and CIO MOTO with Larris Allen aboard - both from the high-powered stables of Anthony 'Baba' Nunes - as well as IT IS WRITTEN with champion jockey Omar Walker riding for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.
Best prepared
TWIST OF FATE has looked the best prepared and will more than likely be sent off the favourite. This rangy bay colt by He'sthereal-thing out of Kentucky Love has looked real sharp in his preparation, galloping from the gates in a brisk 58.4 at exercise last Wednesday, the first four in 46-flat.
Prior to that he turned in three bullet works, best of which was a three-furlong gallop in 35.0 on January 16. Having showed good speed in the mornings, TWIST OF FATE only needs to come away in good order to get off the mark immediately.
Still, he can expect stiff competition from stablemate CI MOTO, a bay colt by Image Maker out of Instead Of Ross who has also looked forward at exercise and IT IS WRITTEN, a chestnut colt by Footloose out of Under Thirty who is coming to run from his favourable high number draw. IT IS WRITTEN looked easy when galloping out of the straight in 1:01.0 on January 26, the first four in 47-flat.
Despite the claims of IT IS WRITTEN and CIO MOTO, TWIST OF FATE looks the one to be on.
Other favourites
I also like the Ryan Darby-trained LATIN KING with Walker aboard to upstage the recent winner GALLAVANTER and I AM PAID FOR, following his 5-1/4 lengths fourth to SATISFIER also over 1600 in high-claiming company on January 17.
LATIN KING is actually down in class to contest this race and despite the strong claims of GALLAVANTER, who won in a good time over 1400 metres on January 24, the choice has be the five-year-old son of Latin Charm.
Other firm fancies on the card are MAZDA POWER to go one better in the second race over 1600 metres, speedy PURE JUSTICE to complete the hat-trick in the third, RISK REWARDS to rebound in the fourth and THEDIVINEKING over GIRLOFMYDREAMS in the nightpan.