Thu | Mar 28, 2024

El Profesor has right credentials

Published:Sunday | January 26, 2020 | 12:37 AMAinsley Walters - Sunday Gleaner Writer
EL PROFESOR
EL PROFESOR

EL PROFESOR is up against the weakest field he has faced in, certainly, the last four months, probably longer, and should defy topweight with Trevor Simpson to put away a hodgepodge line-up, almost a half of which doesn’t belong in the event, listed as a ‘non-restricted overnight allowance’ at seven furlongs.

Apart from joint topweight, HOVER CRAFT, a 10-year-old in the departure lounge, there is no other genuine overnight allowance runner in the sparse line-up, making EL PROFESOR’s job that much easier over the distance.

KJ EXPRESS, an outright sprinter, who has never gone beyond six and a half furlongs in her career, takes a second crack at the level after finishing down the track behind DUNROBIN last Saturday. Even at 115lb, KJ EXPRESS slipping EL PROFESOR is far-fetched, considering the company he has kept, finishing five and a half lengths behind GOD OF LOVE and PRINCE CHARLES at six furlongs last time out.

ATLANTIC BLUE’s vulnerability against strong opposition was exposed by ROYAL VIBES in a $750,000 claiming event at seven and a half furlongs in September, caught a furlong out by the old stager, before returning to bully lesser rivals, KALAHARI and GRAYDON, at six and a half, two weeks later.

It has been three months since ATLANTIC BLUE last raced whereas EL PROFESOR was busy in the interim, competing four times, including an overnight allowance victory, followed by third-place runs behind BRUCE WAYNE and PRINCESS ANNIE.

Even at his best, HOVER CRAFT would have needed at least another furlong, compounded by joint topweight, to outfinish EL PROFESOR, who will get first run on stablemates KJ EXPRESS and GRAYDON, the expected leaders.

Another banker on the nine-race Sunday card is Spencer Chung’s United States-bred three-year-old, RACE CAR, a grey colt, who breezed five and a half furlongs in 1:06.4 last Tuesday morning, the first time he had ever been asked a serious question at exercise.

RACE CAR is among five US-bred runners, including Wayne DaCosta’s experienced EAGLE ONE and Richard Azan’s EROY, running as maidens against a pair of local-breds with one victory each under their girths.

Post time for today’s first Sunday meet of the year is 12:30 p.m.