FIRST LADY (left), with Omar Walker up, gliding past hot 3-5 favourite TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE (Dick Cardenas) to win last Saturday's Howard Phillipps Memorial Cup over 1100 metres at Caymanas Park. The winner is owned by S&G Stables and trained by Wayne DaCosta. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Eight open allowance horses are slated for today's King's Plate grade II feature over 1500 metres, among them the consistent SLOGAN who is tipped to go one better.

Owned and trained by Clifford Atkinson Sr., SLOGAN was brave in defeat against MUCHO GUSTO over 1400 metres last time out, failing in his bid to complete a hat-trick of wins over the distance.

stiff opposition

SLOGAN can expect stiff opposition from the bold front-unner MR SKILL, as well as the vastly improved four-year-old colts REGAL SELECTION and MINISTEROFJUSTICE, both ideally suited to the trip.

Although yet to win going this far, MR SKILL, from the all-conquering stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta repre-sents the lone speed in the lineup and, if judiciously ridden by champion jockey Omar Walker, should still be around for the final battle.

Prior to his last race, SLOGAN slammed the useful importee LIKKLE BIT by 4 1/2 lengths over 1400 metres on November 26 in open allowance company over the same distance and also on Superstakes Day in overnight company, again over same.

Although having notched his last three wins over 1400 metres, SLOGAN won easily over today's trip in May of last year, scoring by 7 1/4 lengths from the 2007 Derby winner RANSOM MAN in the fairly good time of 1:32.4.

no slouch

SLOGAN, who is no slouch, will more than likely gain first run over top-weight MINISTER-OFJUSTICE and REGAL SELECTION when MR SKILL comes under pressure in the last furlong.

Both MINISTEROFJUSTICE, to be ridden by in-form Dane Nelson for trainer Michael McIntosh, and the Morris Powell-trained REGAL SELEC-TION, who has won his last two races in impressive fashion, will be closing strongly from below the distance, especially REGAL SELECTION with former champion Shane Ellis again in the saddle.

REGAL SELECTION will be extremely dangerous in the last 100 metres but SLOGAN should have enough to hold him at bay.

firm fancies

Other firm fancies on the card are leading classic aspirant THE GUMMER (Walker up) to go one better in the third race over 1500 metres for three-year-olds; down-in-class LITTLEREDCORVETTE to stave off TWENTY NINE and THUNDERSTORM in the fifth (claiming $390,000 - $340,000) over the straight five course; COCK ROBIN to rebound under in-form Dane Nelson in the sixth for $180,000 claimers; and recent winner SKETEL over ORION in the closing race over 1200 metres.