Orville Clarke, Freelance Reporter

RAMPAGE, ridden by Shane Ellis for owner/trainer Richard Azan, sprints clear of rivals to win the 16th running of the Arthur Jones Memorial Cup, graded stakes feature over 1200 metres, at Caymanas Park, last Saturday. The 8-5 winner scored by 5-1/4 lengths from the favourite, CLOCK WORK. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Having signalled her return to form in finishing second at odds of 99-1 recently, ROYAL CHRIS should go one better in the restricted allowance V for the Jamaica Jockeys' Guild Trophy for five-year-olds and up (non winners of two) over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park, today.

In keeping with the annual Jockeys' Guild raceday, the 11-race programme will also facilitate the four-year-old maiden condition race for the Al Gopie Memorial Cup, this in memory of the popular lightweight jockey who died in a spill at Caymanas Park on Saturday, November 20, 1999, along with the Caymanas Track Limited Exercise Riders Race ($170,000 conditional claiming) over 800 metres straight.

If that was not enough, there is the Jockeys' Quick Dash, a 200-metre (one furlong) running race to be contested by 12 jockeys, including reigning champion Omar Walker, Jason Simpson, Leo Miller, Harriston Lewis and Phillip Clunis, among others. This race will facilitate win, exacta and quinela betting.

Nine starters

Nine starters have been declared for the Jamaica Jockeys' Guild Trophy race and, despite the presence of the recent winners WIN POWER, JAMMING, JACKE-NIMBLE and ROYAL PEARL, it should come down to a straight fight between old rivals ROYAL CHRIS and SAMBA DANCER to be ridden by former cham-pions Trevor Simpson and Shane Ellis, respectively.

When both horses last met over 1500 metres on February 23, the more fancied SAMBA DANCER finished six lengths second to RIGGETO, while ROYAL CHRIS ran no race at all to finish 10 lengths fifth.

SAMBA DANCER, with Shane Ellis taking over the reins, came back with a good effort in defeat on March 8 when a fast-finishing fourth, beaten a mere length by OK BABY over 1200 metres, this after he experienced traffic problems.

Given the additional furlong of today's race and Ellis again in the saddle, the five-year-old gelding from the stables of Dale Murphy can definitely make amends.

Despite his sound claims though, preference is for ROYAL CHRIS who came back on March 15 to run a blinder in defeat in better company, finishing two lengths second to NATURAL ATLANTA over 1500 metres.

The five-year-old mare from the stables of Wilfred Chin raced prominently into the straight (wide home turn) to have every chance on the outside leaving the furlong pole, only to find NATURAL ATLANTA too strong.

In finishing second, the daughter of Royal Minister-New Chris had the likes of GREAT SENSATION, GALLAVANTER and HELTA SKELTA behind, a performance if duplicated today should see her winning quite easily from the convenient mark of 53.0kg.

Other firm fancies on the card are the well-forward debutante MISS MARTHA BRAE (Shane Ellis up) over ALFALLO and EL DIABLO in the closing Al Gopie Memorial Cup to be contested by 16 starters, the speedy RISING MOON over HE AIN'T HEAVY and YYESSBABY in the sixth, the CTL Exercise Riders Race, and CLASSY BOY PETE, with the trip ideal, to catch the stable-companions CLOCK WORK and PASSA PASSA in the 1400-metre fifth race for open allowance horses.