Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

PURE JUSTICE (left), ridden by Dane Nelson, holds off the highly fancied WINNING MESSAGE (Clive Lynch) to win the ninth race for the claiming group $210,000-$180,000 over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park last Saturday. He was a 5-1 winner. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

With the Abe Issa Memorial Cup principal feature having to be abandoned due to insufficient entries, the Millard Ziadie Cup (claiming $380,000-$330,000) over 1100 metres takes centrestage on today's 10-race programme at Caymanas Park.

It has attracted eight starters and should provide keen competition among the likes of JACK BE GOOD, down-in-class PSYCHE-DELIC, BABY RENEE, TASSY'S WHIP and the fleet-footed but short running MELINDAGATA, who is sure to keep them honest with her speed.

JACK BE GOOD, to be ridden again by the improving apprentice Delroy Beharie and the American filly PSYCHEDELIC with former champion Shane Ellis riding for trainer Gary Subratie, should carry the bulk of the betting.

But there should be good support for the Wesley Perkins-trained BABY RENEE who won back-to-back races on November 24 and December 8, as well as Richard Todd's TASSY'S WHIP who has been thereabouts at the finish in recent races.

A better animal

JACK BE GOOD, however, is basically a better animal than this level at his best and having signalled his return to form with a good win over 1200 metres on New Year's Day, can definitely follow up.

The six-year-old gelding from the stables of Lawrence Freemantle is up in class ($315,000 to $380,000) to contest this race, but won easily enough in the fairly good time of 1:14.1 to suggest he's back on song.

On September 1 of last year, JACK BE GOOD failed by three-quarter length to stave off TOBAGO over 1200 metres in overnight allowance company, having the likes of PASSA PASSA behind that day.

Although PSYCHEDELIC is stepping down after finishing a close third to NUMERO UNO over the straight five course on New Year's Day and is back with a grand chance, she has shown a marked preference for the straight course and could fall victim to JACK BE GOOD.

Both BABY RENEE and TASSY'S WHIP will be running on up the lane after MELINDAGATA, PSYCHEDELIC and JACK BE GOOD dictate the fractions into the straight, but I am expecting JACK BE GOOD to prove the strongest of all.

Down in class

Elsewhere on the programme, the 2006 Governor's Cup (Lotto Classic) and St. Leger winner ALLIEDFORCE steps down in class to contest the overnight allowance race over 1600 metres and it will take a brave punter to oppose him with champion jockey Omar Walker aboard.

After finishing a close fifth to MAJOR MAYER in the November 10 Megafone Superstakes, Noel Ennevor's ALLIED-FORCE (working well) is presented with a gift and carrying a mere 52.0kg, should win pulling a bus as his only serious rival in the 11-strong field appears to be the 2003 Superstakes winner PITTACUS.

Other fancies

Other firm fancies on the card are FLASH FLOOD in the third race, SPECIAL K ahead of RAMADA in the fifth, hat-trick seeker JET SKI D'OR to stave off IMPERIALIST in the eighth and ABOUNDING GRACE in the nightpan.