Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

The Anbell Group bows in at Caymanas Park today with its first-ever sponsorship of horse racing with not one, but two races under its ePhone brand highlighting the 12-race programme.

These are the $600,000 ePhone To Di World Trophy (non winners of two) for native bred three-year-olds over 1820 metres and the $550,000 3-y-o maiden special over 1400 metres for the ePhone Keep Di Link Trophy, to be run in two divisions.

Each has attracted 12 starters and indications are that MR BLAIR (Shane Ellis up) and MISTER OFFICER (Dane Nelson), both of whom have been knocking at the door, will win their respective sections.

Based on his creditable third in the Jamaica Licensed Bookmakers 2000 Guineas over 1600 metres on April 5, MINISTEROFJUSTICE is expected to start favourite in the ePhone To Di World Trophy (restricted allowance II) to be contested by seven starters.

Classy pair

Trained by last year's Superstakes winning trainer Michael McIntosh (Major Mayer), MINISTEROFJUSTICE came from last position in the Guineas to finish 12 lengths third to the classy pair of ROYAL IMAGE and COMMANDER ZERO in an eight-strong field.

The son of Royal Minister-Sub Zero outfinished the Philip Feanny-trained LEONIDAS by a length for third and the latter, along with the lightly raced but improving GAMBOA and GOOD HOPE, both winners in recent months, should ensure a highly competitive race.

The Richard Azan-trained GAMBOA showed vast improvement on his second outing when strolling home by eight lengths over 1500 metres in maiden company on March 24 (Easter Monday).

The fact that he covered the distance in the pretty good time of 1:32.4 makes this son of He'stherealthing-Princess Naevus a dangerous opponent on this his third outing.

Early lead

Title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis again has the ride on GAMBOA, who has shown the necessary pace to work his way into an early lead and make the best of his way home.

However, MINISTEROFJUSTICE, who had earlier won over a mile on February 20 in post-to-post fashion, did himself proud by finishing third in the 2000 Guineas, a race in which he had both LEONIDAS and GOOD HOPE behind. Although outpaced for a long way in the Guineas, MINISTEROFJUSTICE is no slouch and will not be far off the pace.

Based on these factors, he gets the nod over GAMBOA and LEONIDAS under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths.

Other firm fancies on the card are BLUE MARLIN to have the measure of old rival COCK ROBIN in the third race, MILLION DOLLARBABY in the fifth, LADY RAKWALAAY in the seventh, BONNIE'S VICTORY ahead of LATIN KING and hat-trick seeker SHAHID in the ninth, and UNBRIDLED JOY in the closing race over 1100 metres.