Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

RAINBOW TRAIN looks a safe bet in today's feature race at Caymanas Park, the second race of the CTL Claiming series. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

CONSISTENT RAINBOW TRAIN looks the one to beat when she takes on eight opponents in Race No. 2 of the CTL Claiming series ($210,000 and less) over the circular nine course at Caymanas Park today.

Trained by the veteran 'Hall of Famer' Sydney Watson, RAINBOW TRAIN is coming off a near miss over the distance on February 16 when failing by half a length to catch the down-in-class favourite AITCHEMESBEAGLE, this on a $260,000 claiming tag.

Champion jockey Omar Walker, who rode her then, has persisted with the ride and with less to do in present company, RAINBOW TRAIN, now dropped in class, should make no mistake.

The stretch running seven-year-old mare by Pat N Jac out of Marlee Barley is something of a specialist over the course, to the extent that her past two wins were recorded over the same distance.

Although stepping down to compete, RAINBOW TRAIN will do so from the convenient mark of 52kg. And with Walker still entitled to a 2kg apprentice claim, it should be smooth sailing from the final bend.

Still, RAINBOW TRAIN can expect worthwhile opposition from in particular her half sister SOY MUJER, who was a winner over the distance on a $170,000 tag New Year's Day, then came back to chase home out-of-class SHAHID over 1600 metres on a $210,000 claiming tag on February 9. NIJINSKY'S WAR, who was behind RAINBOW TRAIN in the race won by AITCHEMESBEAGLE and SANTA ANITA GIRL who is enjoying good form, will both be competitive in a race of this nature. But RAINBOW TRAIN should prove too strong for them under these conditions, and I expect SOY MUJER to chase her home.

One of the more competitive races on the well-supported card is the sixth, a 4-y-o and up restricted allowance IV (non winners of three) over 1400 metres to be contested by 11 starters.

Abundance of good form

With an abundance of good form present, the race should provide keen competition with the winner expected to come from a group comprising TRUE HONOUR, SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS, JADORE, HAIL THE GENIUS and the recent winners RIGGED TO WIN, HASAN and PRINCESS ZANAI.

The Wayne DaCosta-trained RIGGED TO WIN won easily over 1200 metres some weeks ago, and given the additional 200 metres, could outfinish rivals with in-form Dane Nelson again in the saddle. The same is true of JADORE, who failed in her bid for the hat-trick last time out.

TRUE HONOUR, who beat all barring SMOOTH DUDE over 1500 metres last time, has the speed to made all and on the strength of that performance, is tipped to go one better at the expense of SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS who he had behind in third on the last occasion. I also like GOOD HOPE in the second race, DANCING SAM in the third, COLLEGE BOY in the seventh, EL DIABLO in the eighth and WIND JAMMER over ZEALOT and YESSBABY in the closing straight five race.