Paul Francis ... will be aboard The Greyt Doctor. - file
THE GREYT DOCTOR should be rewarded for his consistency at Caymanas Park today by winning the three-year-old and up restricted III (other than) allowance race over 1800 metres for the Valbert Marlowe Memorial Cup to be contested by eight starters.
Owned and bred by Dr Paul Wright, the four-year-old grey gelding by Alisios out of the French Champagne mare Medicine Woman has been knocking at the door in recent races, failing by a head to catch PLEASURE FLIGHT in a fast-run 1500-metre race on April 22.
He followed up with two other second-place finishes to STAROFTHESEA, again over 1500 metres, and FIRST LADY at 1200 metres recently.
With nothing of the calibre of PLEASURE FLIGHT or STAROFTHESEA around in a race of this nature, THE GREYT DOCTOR will not go down easily from the convenient mark of 54.0kg and in-form jockey Paul 'Country' Francis aboard.
Many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny has him in good nick for this race, the gelding galloping 5 1/2 furlongs in a brisk 1:08.0 last Wednesday morning, the last five in 1:01.0.
THE GREYT DOCTOR will welcome this easier pace and, despite the claims of old rival GABROUSHE, SINGINGINTHERAIN and LOVINGGOOD, is poised to win his second race from seven starts this season.
Overdue visit
He will not be inconvenienced by the longer distance and should lead home GABROUSHE and LOVINGGOOD, who on back class could pay an overdue visit to the winners' enclosure. However, her form coming into this race is so indifferent that she can only be taken on trust, despite coming from the in-form stables of Gary Subratie.
Champion jockey Omar Walker has secured some live mounts on the 10-race programme and it should be interesting to see whether he can join Dane Nelson at the top of the jockeys' championship.
Nelson, with 54 winners, begins the day, three clear of Walker who should start the ball rolling from the first race aboard the speedy UNBREAKABLE HEART for his 'guv'nor' Wayne DaCosta.
Far from disgraced
UNBREAKABLE HEART was far from disgraced when chasing FIRST LADY to the last furlong to finish third in a recent 1200-metre race won by FIRST LADY. With less to do in this small field, UNBREAKABLE HEART should lead home JET SKIER.
Walker should also win aboard ROLL THE DICE in the second race, POSSE TRAIN for trainer Harry Parsard in the fourth over 600 metres straight for maiden two-year-olds, while it should be a toss up between his mount, MUSTANG and Nelson's ride DIGI N"JIGGY in the closing race for $180,000 claimers over the straight.
I also like the recent upset winner QUICK AND GRAY to repeat in the third race, FUGITIVE in the sixth, FIRST EDITION in the seventh and the Oaks third PATARA in the eighth.