TOP COMMANDER, one of three winners for Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas, owner Ruth Hussey and trainer Percy Hussey, wins the Omar Walker Trophy three-year-old maiden special over the straight five course at Caymanas Park last Saturday. Second went to THE GUV with Dane Nelson aboard. Both were racing for the first time. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Champion sprinter AHWHOFAH makes her seasonal debut at Caymanas Park today when she opposes five opponents in the Eros Trophy over 1400 metres, the season's first grade-one race.
Trained by reigning champion Wayne DaCosta, the classy four-year-old filly by Royal Minister out of Executive Profile left us on a winning note December 6 last year when she got up in the nick of time to win the CTL Gold Cup over this trip.
Four weeks prior to that, she won the prestigious Caribbean Sprint Championship over 1200 metres.
Today, she bids for a hat-trick of wins under customary rider, champion jockey Omar Walker, who completed a three-day suspension in time to secure the ride.
In the Gold Cup, AHWHOFAH beat the best horses in the country, including Superstakes winner AD INFINITUM.
She also accounted for MUCHO GUSTO (third), MEDICAL REPORT (fourth) and GOOD CITIZEN (seventh). All renew rivalry on improved terms at the weights, but AHWHOFAH has moved so impressively at exercise in preparation for the race that it will take a brave punter to oppose her, even with joint top weight of 57.5kg.
She has turned in bullet work after bullet work in preparation for this trophy, turning heads at exercise last Sunday morning when blazing six furlongs in a fast 1:12.0. With her preparation complete, AHWHOFAH should return with a bang.
MUCHO GUSTO, who finished a close third in the Gold Cup and has since won over the distance, has settled down of late to become a genuine grade-one horse.
The five-year-old gelding from the stables of Anthony 'Baba' Nunes has been a model of consistency and having worked well coming into the race, looks the principal danger to my selection, AHWHOFAH.
FINISHING SPEED
Her good mid-race pace, combined with strong finishing speed, should do the trick.
Elsewhere on the programme, WESTERN CLASSIC, from the in-form stables of 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny, has worked well in preparation for the opening 1200-metre race for native and imported three-year-olds and should win with Florida-based Jamaican jockey Allen Maragh aboard.
WESTERN CLASSIC, who last raced on Boxing Day when finishing down the track behind MISS RUTH in the $3.5 million Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over 1600 metres, looked real sharp at exercise on Tuesday morning when galloping 5-1/2 furlongs in a brisk 1:06.0 by a minute flat.
The son of Western Classic reverts to the ideal trip today and despite the sound claims of recent winners SIR VALIANT and HE'S REALLY OK, should make a winning return.
Other firm fancies on the card are THE RED SKULL, to go one better in the second race, HOMBRE to repeat in the third, ROLL THE DICE to atone in the fourth and BORN FIGHTER (regaining form) in race No. 2 of the CTL Claiming Series over 1820 metres.