Look out for Birdie My Love

ANTHONY Nunes' BILINGUAL reports off a five-month lay-up with sizzling exercise reports but has not raced since Superstakes Day, raising questions about her race fitness for today's 1400-metre overnight allowance for the Jamaica Veterinary Board World Vet day Trophy.

A really classy filly, BILINGUAL kept the best of company as a three-year-old last year, placing third behind SHE'S A MANEATER and MONEY MAGNET in the Thornbird Stakes, before turning the tables on the runner-up to be second in the 1000 Guineas.

A half-sister to speedy PATRIARCH, BILINGUAL's stamina limitations were exposed behind runaway winner MARLENE MY LOVE in the 10-furlong Jamaica Oaks. However, she was still 12 lengths clear of the third-place horse, VICE ROYALTY.

She recorded back-to-back victories in September and October after losing to LOOSE CANNON in a sprint, reporting off a five-month lay-up.

BILINGUAL was prominent up to the furlong pole in the grade one Invitational Mile won by stablemate HOUDINI'S MAGIC. However, she went off on another five-month lay-up, resurfacing in this afternoon's event against race-fit horses, carrying topweight 57.0 kilos with Shane Ellis, allowing in-form BIRDIE MY LOVE and JAMAI RAJA, 16lb apiece.

THIRD MEETING IN AMONTH

Though BILINGUAL has been burning rubber at exercise, 1:13.3 for six furlongs last Saturday morning, BIRDIE MY LOVE and JAMAI RAJA are meeting for the third time within a month and will both be ridden by apprentices slipping weight.

JAMAI RAJA has Melissa Ward at 50.0 kilos, whereas Oneil Scott is astride BIRDIE MY LOVE, booked to ride at 49.5. With the handicaps against her in what is expected to be a true pace, BILINGUAL, despite her class, could be in trouble with topweight.

In addition to JAMAI RAJA and BIRDIE MY LOVE, STORMING, a run-on sprinter, is at a handy 52.5 kilos, with non-claiming apprentice Javaniel Patterson.

Should BILINGUAL reproduce her exercise reports and back class, she could destroy the field. However, it's never easy to come off a lay-up at the top of the scale against race-fit horses, allowing almost 20lb.

Scott could steal the race aboard BIRDIE MY LOVE. He has been on some good winners recently, twice aboard Richard Azan's PEKING CRUZ, plus SIR PUDDINGTON, which would have done a world of good for his confidence.