‘Tony K’ to win battle against Traditional Prince

TALENTED TONY K and TRADITIONAL PRINCE should fight out an intriguing battle for top honours in the third race over 1100 metres for open allowance horses at Caymanas Park today.

Despite having attracted only six starters, the two principals are standouts in the small field and it should go down to the wire.

A speedy sort who will definitely set off in front, TALENTED TONY K, will be ridden by top apprentice O'Brien White for trainer Lorne Kirlew and Patrick Lynch's TRADITIONAL PRINCE by champion jockey Dane Nelson, who rode three winners on Saturday to assume the lead in the jockeys' standings with 29.

When both horses last met over the minimum trip (1000 metres) in the race won by FORTUNEONEHUNDRED on April 4, TRADITIONAL PRINCE clipped long-time leader TALENTED TONY K by a neck for second in that fast-run race and renews rivalry on 2.0kg worse terms with another 100 metres to travel.

Back in January, however, TALENTED TONY K slammed TRADITIONAL PRINCE by 31/2 lengths over the straight five course, equalling the track record of 56.3 in the process.

Both have strong claims, but TRADITIONAL PRINCE has held his form quite well since winning easily over the round five course on February 28, and the seven-year-old son of Traditional-Princess Lal should get there in the nick of time.

Elsewhere on the nine-race programme, the recent winner, SIR VON, should make it two in a row when he steps up in class for the $450,000-$400,000 claiming race over the straight, to be contested by 10.

Other firm fancies on the card are the unbeaten three-year-old, BONGO KING, to repeat in the opening race over 1700 metres, SIRMANDI to go one better in the fourth, MAKE MY DAY in the fifth and SAINT THERESA to stave off CANTARE in the seventh over 1200 metres for $180,000 claiming horses.