Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

TWELVE HORSES have been declared at the overnight stage for the 30th running of the CTL Superstakes over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday, the field including last year's winner, MAJOR MAYER, and this year's Triple Crown winner, ALSAFRA.

Bearing in mind the credentials of the top two, the race has been billed as a battle of the sexes between the outstanding three-year-old filly ALSAFRA, to be ridden as usual by two-time champion jockey Brian Harding for trainer Fitznahum Williams, and her older brother, MAJOR MAYER, with customary pilot Richard Mitchell riding for trainer Michael McIntosh.

Superstakes worth going

The clash between brother and sister makes this Super-stakes worth going miles to see, as both are on course for 'Horse of the Year' honours and victory for either in this championship race should seal the award.

MAJOR MAYOR is a five-year-old chestnut gelding by Sir Lal Bahadur out of the 2007 champion broodmare Tee Gee Vee, while ALSAFRA is a three-year-old chestnut filly by Legal Process out of Tee Gee Vee. Both are bred by Henry Jaghai.

Norman Gordon, who is part-owner of ALSAFRA, said his filly continues to improve and given the 5kg concession (including a 2kg sex allowance) from MAJOR MAYER and the older colts and geldings such as AD INFINITUM and RUM TALK, she is expected to start a firm favourite for this her sternest test to date.

With $5 million at stake, the race is not necessary confined to ALSAFRA and MAJOR MAYER, even though both are expected to carry the bulk of the betting.

Decent hand for 'baba'

Trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes holds a decent hand with the pair of AD INFINITUM (Dane Nelson) who recently won the Governor General's Stakes (grade one) over the distance and the talented three-year-old filly IT IS I (Andrew Ramgeet). The latter won the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) over the distance back in May.Completing the list of entries, all invitees for this prestigious grade one race, are RUM TALK (Winston Griffiths), ACCOMPONG (Clive Lynch), PRIME MINISTER (Trevor Simpson), along with IL CAIMANO, IVAN THE TERRIBLE, MR BLAIR, AGUILA and REGAL SELECTION.