ALLTHEBEST (left), ridden by Robert Stewart, wins the fourth race, the Cash Pot Sprint Trophy over 1200 metres in a driving finish from MARVELOUS LADY (right, Aaron Chatrie) and AWESOME REWARD (Richard Mairs) at Caymanas Park on Saturday. A 9-2 chance, ALLTHEBEST was the first of two winners for trainer Tony Kirlew on the 11-race programme. The trainer's other winner was the 3-1 chance THE BEST MAN in the seventh race over 1100 metres with apprentice Ansel Dansel aboard. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Today's well-supported Heroes Day card at Caymanas Park features a number of trophy races, including the $1.2 million Governor General's Stakes (grade one) over 2000 metres.
This is the final prep race for horses expecting to run in the November 14 Superstakes and although attracting only four starters, it should still prove highly competitive as all of the horses are in good form.
In addition to the GG Stakes, other trophy races on the card are the $1.1 million Hi-Pro Stables Choice Feeds Trophy over 1300 metres for native bred maiden two-year-olds, to be contested by 15 starters; the million-dollar Ace Supercentre Trophy race (overnight allowance) over 1820 metres; the Association of Racing Chemists Trophy 3-y-o maiden condition race over 1400 metres; and the traditional Heroes Day co-feature for the Norman Manley Memorial Cup (claiming $250,000-$210,000) over the round five course.
Top weight
Among the four starters declared for the Governor General's Stakes is last year's winner, AD INFINITUM, who again shoulders top weight of 57.0kg. A year ago AD INFINITUM won under the crushing impost of 60.5kg, with Dane Nelson aboard, but had to pull out all the stops to win in a three-way photo finish also involving PRIME MINISTER and IL CAIMANO.
AD INFINITUM went on to win the Superstakes a month later at the expense of the Triple Crown winner and subsequent Horse of the Year, ALSAFRA, one of his three opponents today.
Having advertised his well-being on October 3 when failing by three-quarter length to catch the American filly GOOD CITIZEN in the Viceroy Trophy over 1800 metres, AD INFINITUM will be cherry ripe for this race and should not only turn the tables on GOOD CITIZEN over this trip, but beat ALSAFRA and the bold front runner HOMBRE as well.
HOMBRE, who is lightly weighted and enjoys running in front, should be closely staked by both GOOD CITIZEN and ALSAFRA approaching the half-mile and this should set it up nicely for the stretch-running AD INFINITUM, who won't be far off the pace in this small field.
Too strong
Being the quintessential mile-and-quarter horse, AD INFINITUM, who is a good carrier of weight, should prove too strong for ALSAFRA leaving the furlong pole. Two-time champion jockey Brian Harding is slated to ride the very fit seven-year-old gelding for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes and leading owner Elias Haloute.
Meanwhile, STAR OF THE SEA, formerly trained by the late Hall of Famer Allan 'Billy' Williams but now taking orders from the young trainer Clifford Atkinson Jr, should stave off PRIME MINISTER in the Ace Supercentre Trophy race following her close second to Derby winner HE'S REALLY OK in the Prime Minister's Stakes over 2000 metres on August 6.
I also like HEARTOFACHAM-PION under three-time champion jockey, Hubert Bartley, to get the better of SOCA PARTY in the Hi-Pro Stables Choice Feeds Trophy and PAT ON CALL to win the Norman Manley Memorial Cup ahead of recent winner COCK ROBIN.