HE'S REALLY OK with regular rider Paul Francis. - file
The June 13 UBA Derby winner HE'S REALLY OK faces his stiffest task to date when he takes on older horses for the first time in the $1.1 million Prime Minister's Stakes grade one race over 2000 metres feature event on today's holiday card at Caymanas Park.
Despite a small field of six, the race promises to be an intriguing contest, as only the four-year-old filly STAR OF THE SEA can be safely ruled out, as she lacks the class to win a race of this nature.
Apart from the Derby and Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) winner, the field includes the season's top stayer RUM TALK, last year's Superstakes winner AD INFINITUM, as well as the 2008 CTL Imported Mile winner ENGLISH STORM and the recent Nigel B. Nunes Memorial Trophy runaway winner HOMBRE, who has finally made it to the top class.
Break the jinx
The big question:Can HE'S REALLY OK measure up to the best distance horses at this stage? For me, the answer is a resounding yes.
In the last 10 years, three-year-olds have a poor record in the Prime Minister's Stakes, as only HERECOMESFUDGIE in 2003 has managed to break the jinx. HE'S REALLY OK could be the exception, as the two genuine grade one horses - RUM TALK and AD INFINITUM - report with their fair share of weight and can be beaten by the lightly weighted roan colt.
Owned by Patrick Smellie and trained by Frederick Watson, HE'S REALLY OK carries a mere 50.0kg and although facing what amounts to his sternest test to date, should be good enough to win, despite his unplaced effort behind arch-rival BRUCEONTHELOOSE in the July 4 RJR St Leger over the distance, a race in which he was highly fancied (5-2), but the wrong tactics were employed by jockey Paul 'Country' Francis, who tried to make all.
HE'S REALLY OK reports well refreshed to vie for this valuable prize, and if ridden with greater restraint, should take top honours under these conditions.
Strong early pace
The son of He'stherealthing out of OK Mom has good pace and also the capacity to come from behind if the situation demands.
The fleet-footed pair of HOMBRE, who made all impressively in the recent Nigel B. Nunes Memorial and the now lightly weighted American colt ENGLISH STORM are expected to set a strong early pace ahead of HE'S REALLY OK and RUM TALK, with AD INFINITUM held up.
I don't think they will be able to escape HE'S REALLY OK, who should be right there in third biding his time, before starting his winning run from the half mile.
I am expecting him to come through early in the straight and hold the fast-finishing AD INFINITUM (working well) under back to form Brian Harding at bay in the closing stages.
Other form fancies on the card are QUICKSTER in the first, TOUCHDOWN in the third, THUNDER STORM to complete the hat-trick in the fifth, WORKING IMAGE in the eighth and LUCKY EDDIE in the 10th and final, the Track Price Dig Out Handicap.