RYAN DARBY's TWENTY NINE, caught stealing home at the wire by RED LION at 1200 metres on Boxing Day, should get the better of old rival MELINDAGATA in this afternoon's trophy race, which will be run as the first event, an 1100-metre sprint for the Millard Ziadie Cup.

TWENTY NINE was two lengths clear a furlong out and looking all over a winner with Paul Francis, having disposed of MELINDAGATA, when RED LION, ridden by Carlton Malcolm, fell on him like a ton of bricks close home.

The six-year-old gelding was hunting back-to-back wins after beating GOOD SENSE at 1000 metres straight on December 6, posting a decent 1:00.1.

MELINDAGATA is back, still light at 48.0 kilos, but was no match for TWENTY NINE, who had attacked and left her for dead at the top of the lane in their last meeting.

EYEING A WIN

In addition, Neive Graham's PURE JUSTICE, a speedy nine-year-old, should keep MELINDAGATA pretty honest on the lead, setting it up for TWENTY NINE to pounce in the stretch run.

PURE JUSTICE is eyeing a fourth win in five starts after making all at 1000 metres round, beating return winner SPANISH TOWN by two lengths on December 20.

However, similar to MELINDAGATA, the nine-year-old prefers an unmolested lead and is a notorious quitter whenever challenged in the stretch run.

Francis need only stalk the pace with TWENTY NINE and be ready to go after PURE JUSTICE whenever MELINDAGATA tires.

COMPLETE EXACTA

Meanwhile, trainer Anthony Nunes looks set to complete the exacta with MUCHO GUSTO and MACHISMO in the afternoon's 1400-metre ninth race for open allowance runners after placing third and fourth, respectively, behind WHEEL N DEAL in a fast-run 1100-metre event on December 27.

Both horses performed creditably in the event, especially MUCHO GUSTO, who should not be beaten at the extended distance after his decent effort behind Richie Todd's WHEEL N DEAL, who was simply too light and fast for catching.

Nunes' in-form barn has eyes on the exacta as MACHISMO, who was squeezed for space from post-position five, is extremely light at 49.0 kilos, light enough to stay on for second in the stretch run behind his out-of-class stablemate.

MUCHO GUSTO, who placed third in the CTL Gold Cup - by a length and three-quarter - behind AHWHOFAH and ENGLISH STORM at 1400 metres, was outsped against WHEEL N DEAL and runner-up MINISTER-OFJUSTICE.

Nunes' runner was 12 lengths eighth at the half-mile and turned for home four lengths fourth. The effort to make up ground on the sprinters took its toll and the five-year-old stayed on one-paced in the stretch run to finish third.

With no holding speed in tomorrow's race at 1400 metres, MUCHO GUSTO should be able to track the speedsters before using his superior mid-race pace to gain off the home turn, from where his finishing kick should be too powerful for rivals.

The speedy BULLET TRAIN is expected to lead a fit field of runners, which includes SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS, SLOGAN and MUCHO GUSTO's stablemate, MACHISMO.

DIFFERENT KETTLE OF FISH

SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS beat a cheap overnight allowance field, getting the better of HAIL THE GENIUS at 1500 metres on December 20 and although light at 48.0 kilos, should find open allowance a different kettle of fish.

SLOGAN showed good form to slam LIKKLE BIT and IL CAIMANO at 1400 metres when graduating top open allowance on November 26, but faces a tougher pace here and won't be able to cruise to the lead with 56.0 kilos against the likes of MUCHO GUSTO and MACHISMO.

Form players should revel in the number of three-and-four-year-old races on the 10-race card.

Richard Azan's GIVEITTOMEBABY, a six-length winner on debut, returns treated with lasix, going up against Wayne DaCosta's colt, SUGAR'S IMAGE, in the third at 1100 metres after clocking 1:07.3 to beat RUNNIN ON EMPTY.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES

SUGAR'S IMAGE looks good at exercise but has not raced in more than six months and will be tackling the round course for the first time after two outings at 600 metres straight last June.

Philip Feanny's SOMETHING DOING should go one better in the fourth at 1000 metres straight, after being outfinished by SKIPPING SUE at the distance on December 20, losing by a length in a driving finish.

Carl Anderson's LAWS OF THE CAT should leave LADY WALES, LITTLE BAY and company for dead in the fifth at 1000 metres straight, drawn sweetly at post position eight and working well at exercise, 1:01.2 on the round course last Tuesday morning.

Close all bets with SERGEANT STONEHAN in the sixth at 1500 metres and PLEASURE FLIGHT in the eighth at a mile.

SERGEANT STONEHAN returns without the visor in which he was beaten at 1400 metres by CLASSIC BEAU on December 27 but is treated with lasix and has looked sharp at exercise, clocking 1:01.0 on the round, minus the equipment, Monday morning.

Take PLEASURE FLIGHT to sit with the pace before slipping away at a mile in the seventh.