MUCHO GUSTO with favourite jockey Brian Harding aboard.
Both the Pick-9 and Super-6 start a anew at Caymanas Park tomorrow, having been caught by astute punters on the weekend.
Tomorrow's 10-race race programme will be highlighted by the 38th running of the CTL Gold Cup over 1400 metres with 11 top-class horses declared.
The Pick-9 will embrace races two to 10, and the Super-6 from five to 10. We look at the Super-6 which gets under way with an overnight allowance race over 1200 metres to be contested by nine starters, including the super fit hat-trick seeker GRACE MARIE, now up in class following her easy victory in fast-time (1:06.0) over 1100 metres last Saturday.
While GRACE MARIE, WHEEL N DEAL and the consistent TRIPLE ACCOUNT should run well, the one to beat must surely be MUCHO GUSTO, who ran a blinder in defeat on November 14 when beaten in a driving finish by super fit PRINCE OF PEACE over 1300 metres.
Contenders
Significantly, MUCHO GUSTO last won over 1400 metres in open allowance company back in January, and this sparingly raced five-year-old gelding from the stables of Anthony 'Baba' Nunes will not go down easily with stable jockey Brian Harding in the saddle.
The sixth race over 1820 metres for maiden three-year-olds should see GENERAL CURLIN, PRINCESS SHANNON, FUNNY SIDE, CONEYISLANDBOY and SPONGY SPONGY in contention where it matters.
The lightly raced CONEYISLANDBOY has shown promise in two sprint races so far and seemingly needs a distance of ground to be seen to full advantage. The son of He'stherealthing stayed on to finish 71/4 lengths fifth to ROJO over 1200 metres last Sunday and given the additional real estate, is preferred to FUNNY SIDE and GENERAL CURLIN.
LADY WALES, now dropped in class and venturing over her favourite trip (1200m), gets the nod over TOUCHDOWN and DESIGNED FOR LUCK in the seventh race over 1200 metres. The eighth, over 1500 metres, looks tailored for DR STEPHANIE (knocking at the door), but the very fit RAJPUT and the late-kicking SPECIAL CAT should ensure she does not have things her own way.
Eleven top-class horses have been declared for the Gold Cup, and looking at this star-studded field I believe the winner will come from a quartet comprising last year's winner AHWHOFAH, who shoulders top weight of 60.5kg, along with the 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner SAINT CECELIA, recent runaway winner LADY HASTINGS and the talented American filly HONEYOFALADY, who holds a victory over AHWHOFAH in the October 17 None Such Sprint (grade one).
True, AHWHOFAH represents the class horse of the field and, despite the big weight, could add to her seasonal tally of five grade-one wins. But the Wayne DaCosta-trained filly will have to run twice as hard to beat the classy lightweights SAINT CECELIA and HONEYOFALADY, the only horse in the field to have lowered her colours.
However, SAINT CECELIA from the stables of Spencer Chung, has moved so impressively at exercise in preparation for the race that she has got to be the choice, with a mere 48.0kg and in-form Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas aboard.
SUPER-6 FANCIES
(5) MUCHO GUSTO
(6) CONEYISLANDBOY/FUNNY SIDE
(7) LADY WALES/TOUCHDOWN/ DESIGNED FOR LUCK
(8) DR. STEPHANIE/RAJPUT
(9) SAINT CECELIA/HONEYOFALADY
(10) DOLLA WIN