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Do not oppose GOLDEN DESTINY

Published:Thursday | January 18, 2018 | 12:00 AMElton Tucker/ Assistant Editor - Sports
Ruja Lahoe will ride GOLDEN DESTINY.
FREEDOM FOR EDS (right, with jockey Phillip Parchment aboard) powering to victory at Caymanas Park on January 6.
SHE’S PLUMMY (Anthony Thomas) winning last Saturday’s eighth race at Caymanas Park.
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The speedy SWEET DESTINY will have to be caught in tomorrow's opening Sunrise-6 race at Caymanas Park.

Horses in the $350,000 claiming group will clash over 1000 metres round and the Steven Todd-trained gelding should make it a post-to-post affair with Rayon Wilson aboard.

Last December, SWEET DESTINY led for 800 metres in an 1100 metres event before being outclassed by My Way. He then returned on December 26 and performed well in a 1200 metres race won by Big Black Nation. Both My Way and Big Black Nation produced big performances behind the out-of-class Dragline on Wednesday. FORTUNEONEHUNDRED also has speed, but SWEET DESTINY has the inside draw, and if he leaves the gate promptly, will have an unmolested lead.

They all have to beat LITTLE BIG HORN in Race Two, an overnight event over 1100 metres. All the conditions favour the Neive Graham-trained horse, and at 51.5kg, he could lead all the way. In his last run over the distance, he was outfinished by winner Zephyr and PRINCESS EMANUELLE. Zephyr clocked 1:05.1, with LITTLE BIG HORN just over a length behind in third (1:05.3). In two starts since, he had final times of 1:25.4 for 1400 metres and 58.2 going 1000 metres straight.

PRINCESS EMANUELLE finished ahead of the O'Shaun Connection-owned five-year-old in his last three starts, but the handicaps are now strongly in LITTLE BIG HORN'S favour and he should make no mistake.

It will be a straight battle between top riders Dick Cardenas (JAMAICAN PHAROAH) and Omar Walker (RAKSHA) in the third, a 1200 metres restricted allowance race for four-year-olds and up. JAMAICAN PHAROAH, a four-year-old filly out of the 2008 Jamaica Derby winner Alsafra (sire Miracle Man), is the firm selection. She has turned in two vastly improved performances since being fitted with the figure-8 on December 20. In her last run, she slammed rivals by almost four lengths over 1300 metres and is now ready for another big performance.

Maiden three-year-olds will travel 1000 metres round in the fourth, and the Errol Waugh-trained GOLDEN DESTINY is poised to score a runaway victory after a promising debut on November 11 last year. The Hamark Farms-owned colt broke slow but was up with the pace behind the classy Commander Two for 800 metres before weakening late. There is nothing in tomorrow's line-up with the pace of COMMANDER TWO and GOLDEN DESTINY should take control early and win going away.

The last two races in the Sunrise-6 should be won by MARVELLOUS MARVA, who will be seeking to make it three in a row, and SPEEDY PROCESS ,who has dropped to the $180,000 claiming level to meet an out of form field.

 

SUNRISE-6 SELECTIONS

 

1. SECRET DESTINY

2. LITTLE BIG HORN

3. JAMAICAN PHAROAH

4. GOLDEN DESTINY

5. MARVELLOUS MARVA

6. SPEEDY PROCESS