By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterONLY FIVE starters are slated to contest today's circular feature for the Mortimer 'Morty' Heron Memorial Cup (claiming $210,000 - $180,0000) at Caymanas Park and from the look of things, victory should be a mere formality for CRIMSON MAGIC.
Trained by the 'Claiming King', Richie Todd, CRIMSON MAGIC last won the Altamont Armond Memorial Cup over 2000 metres in a $260,000 on February 28, holding on grimly by a nose from SIR ABBAS MANGAL.
He was beaten in subsequent races in better company on March 27 and April 17, finishing 7 1/2 lengths sixth to RESTLESS WARRIOR over 1400 metres on a $320,000 tag in the first instance and 11 lengths seventh in a one mile trophy race won by LADY ISIS last time out, this on a $260,000 tag.
Now dropped to $210,000 and the opposition nothing much, CRIMSON MAGIC should not be beaten from his convenient mark of 55.0kg and bustling Clive Lynch aboard.
The six-year-old bay gelding by Splinter Red out of Bag Of Diamonds is not only best suited to this trip but has pleased in his preparation as well. He should pack too many guns for SAID I SAID I and CHAMBA KOO, both of whom will get the distance but lack his proven class.
HAT-TRICK
Elsewhere on the 10-race programme which commences at 1:00 p.m., bang in form PRIME FURY is tipped to complete the hat-trick in the fifth race (claiming $320,000 - $280,000) despite the presence of PREFECT, who she beat narrowly over the straight five course last Wednesday.
Also expected to figure seriously is STRAIGHT SIX who was 2 1/2 lengths adrift in the same race but had earlier beaten PRIME FURY by seven lengths over this trip at level weights on April 3.
Fact is that PRIME FURY has shown marked improvement in recent weeks and although worse off at the weights with both STRAIGHT SIX and PREFECT (who will have to be caught), can complete the hat-trick with champion jockey Trevor Simpson now taking over the reins.
Perhaps the most competitive race on the card is the ninth to be contested by nine very fit native bred three-year-olds over 1100 metres. The field includes eight horses who have won convincingly since the start of the year, including TUSCAN SUN, THE REAL KING, MUSIC MASTER, SHOW ME SLEW and LADY LAMMTARRA, who led the 1000 Guineas field for over 1000 metres on April 3 before fading.
LADY LAMMTARRA subsequently won in maiden company by eight lengths over the round five course in the fairly decent time of 1:00.3 and back in action with only 51.0kg and title chasing apprentice Oneil Mullings, could well repeat.
Also expected to figure prominently are TUSCAN SUN who chased home SUPREMELYSATISFIED over 1300 metres on April 24 after winning easily over the round five course on April 10 and the sparingly raced CANTA LIBRE, who won easily on the final of her two starts as a two-year-old last September and will report fit and light.
With so much speed present, the pace will more than likely come back to a horse who has the ability to race in close touch and still produce a winning kick up the lane.
The horse that fits the bill is Philip Feanny's MUSIC MASTER, who is well drawn on the outside with Simpson aboard. The chestnut colt beat a good field over 1200 metres in post-to-post fashion on April 3 and was not disgraced from a bad draw behind MR. DUNN in a recent straight five race.
Other firm fancies on the card are MANDALAY BAY (just failed a week ago) to make amends in the second race, TOBAGO in the sixth, POLISH DANCER (working well) to upstage FULLOFIT in the seventh and JESSICA to catch RESTLESS WOMAN and ZACKATTACK in the 10th.
