Rio Cobre to win knotty feature

Proven campaigner RIO COBRE should win the three-year-old and up overnight allowance feature for the G.A. 'Sarge' Bucknor Memorial Cup over the straight five course at Caymanas Park today, even though worst drawn on the far rails in a field of 13.

Trained by 14-time champion, Wayne DaCosta, RIO COBRE is stepping down in class on the back of a close fourth to stable-companion FORTUNEONEHUNDRED in a fast-run round five race in open allowance company on April 4, an event in which he raced prominently to finish behind FORTUNEONEHUNDRED, TRADITIONAL PRINCE and the speedy TALENTED TONY K.

Indeed, he just failed to pip the third horse, TALENTED TONY K, who proceeded to frank the form with an easy win over 1100 metres on Wednesday.

RIO COBRE is basically a cut above overnight allowance company. In fact, the last time he competed at this level on January 3, the seven-year-old gelding by Chelsey's Finest out of Crafty Friend defied topweght of 57.0kg to catch and beat SUNLIGHT EXPRESS over 1100 metres in a photo finish. And in an earlier race, he beat CAMPESINO by half a length over the round course.

Although up against some fit horses such as HOLOGRAM SHADOW, BUTLER CABIN, FORCE DE JOUR and BORDER LINE, a fit RIO COBRE has the capacity to take home this Trophy with his most recent winning rider, Shamaree Muir, again in the saddle.

True, the draw could be a factor, especially with the speedy pair of HOLOGRAM SHADOW and FORCE DE JOUR drawn just on the outside, but RIO COBRE has the tenacity and class to put away rivals and catches my fancy ahead of HOLOGRAM SHADOW and BUTLER CABIN.

Elsewhere on the nine-race programme, which boasts a Pick-9 carryover of $5.8 million, the American three-year-old colt, BRAWN, from the Gary Subratie stables, should prove too strong for the classic running filly, BERRANCA, in the opening race over 1500 metres, this after his close third to 2000 Guineas runner-up SEEKING MY DREAM and SIEMPRE BUENO over 1820 metres on April 26.

The lightly raced son of the Savara- La Faye colt had previously won very easily over 1400 metres on March 29 and while BERRANCA ran well for second in the recent Oaks, BRAWN looks to be in a different league to the filly. Aaron Chatrie has the ride in a field of six.

Other firm fancies on the card are SHEER MADNESS to win in the second, AWESOME CODE in the fourth, BRAVE PROSPECT in the fifth and SHADE OF BEAUTY in the eighth.