Take Hermoso Amigo in Phillips Memorial Trophy

BY HURBUN WILLIAMS Observer writer

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

TWO trophy races are the mainstay of midweek racing at Caymanas Park today with the $516,600 Howard Phillips Memorial Trophy given prominence over the $528,000 James B Dawes Memorial Trophy claiming event for Restricted Allowance IV native-bred four-year-olds upward (NW3).

The event is the fifth on the truncated eight-race card and has attracted 10 starters. It will be contested over 1,100m and is set at approximately 5:05 pm. First post is 2:00 pm.

The James B Dawes event will be contested over 1300m among runners in the $450,000- $400,000 claiming spread, three-year-olds upward and native-bred five-year-olds (NW4) and is the penultimate race. A field of 11 has been declared.

The Howard Phillips race could prove to be a watershed for a number of four-year-olds as quite a few have not gone on from the promise they showed as two- and three-year-olds.

Among this group is the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes winner Coneyislandboy who will be running for only the third time since his two-year-old success and after coming home lame in last year's 2,000 Guineas in April.

The troubled gelded son of Image Maker apart, there are a number of runners here who have shown better health

and look prime to leave

(NW3) behind.

Chief among them are Hermoso Amigo, Madura Gold, Justin On Fire, Winniana, Spirit Way and Aquilo.

However, in a race with so much early speed, the sprint/stayers may have the final word and this puts the spotlight on the consistent Noel Ennevor-conditioned Hermoso Amigo to leave (NW3) behind.

Bred and owned by Wessel Burnett, Hermoso Amigo, a chestnut colt by Saint Appeal out of Muchacha Favorita (Slick Trick) has made his four-year-old debut with two promising efforts at this level over 1,000 metres straight and 1500 metres in which he finished second.

In both attempts the colt may have lacked the vigorous manhandling necessary in the final part of the events to force a win, but the far-striding

colt will have no such problem on this occasion.

Again well prepared for another capital effort and handily drawn at barrier No 8 an import position for 1100m, trainer Ennevor has gone for the forceful handling of jockey Andre Martin to match

the field of aggressive riders present and this move should make the difference.

Recent winner Spirit Song and narrow losers Madura Gold and Aquilo, along with Justin On Fire, should present the most challenge to Hermoso Amigo registering his third career win.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Free Fall (Laris Allen)

Race 2 Lashing Force (Andre Martin)

Race 3 Jet Setter (Dane Nelson)

Race 4 Centeya (Omar Walker)

Race 5 Hermoso Amigo (Andre Martin)

Race 6 Rainbow Man (Shane Ellis)

Race 7 Wild Glitz (Richard Mitchell)

Race 8 Dalla Fifty (Winston Griffiths)