The 2006 racing season is already into top gear with some stinging, exciting finishes. Today, series one of the CTL Claiming Series - Race #2 for $200,000-$170,000 claimers - seems set to continue the trend as the competitive main showpiece on the 10-race programme at Caymanas Park begins at noon.

A maximum field of 16 starters will contest the 1,500-metre journey for the major share of the $255,000 purse.

Several runners enter the fray with good credentials for victory, among them Razzak, who won Race 1 of the Series exactly one month ago, Sir Knight who finished 2 1/2 lengths third behind Razzak in that event, Fromrussiawithlove, Sir Kisson Lal, Crimson Magic, Island Cigar, Red General, Mambo and Cordite, who possibly has the best chance of taking the spoils back to his barn.

Cordite was a thumping three-length easy winner over 1,300 metres on a $160,000 claiming tag in a 14-horse field. The six-year-old dark brown gelding was coming down in class after a very good 3 1/2-length second to No Tear over today's distance of 1,500 metres.

With No Tear missing and Cordite under Oneil Mullings, still down in class from his then $240,000 tag line, the latter looks the one they will all have to beat.

With the likes of Island Cigar, the mount of Trevor Simpson, coming to run, Fromrussiawithlove with Leo Miller in the saddle, along with the sly Sixth Sense, Cordite will definitely have a bit more to do here than on January 28.

But being basically better than this level and the weight conditions favourable, Cordite should give the combination of trainer Donovan Bruce and Mullings another winner for the season.

The surprise of the pack could manifest itself in High Chase from the stables of Frank Parham and ridden by Devon A Thomas.

Not one to turn out winners on a regular basis, Parham has, however, put this one back on Lasix. This move coupled with some encouraging reports on her preparation for this, the five-year-old bay mare could come alive and surprise her more favoured rivals, as she is very comfortable among these although her last five runs suggest otherwise.

With the Classic season starting in April with the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, the programmes continue to feature races involving prospective three-year-olds. Three races scheduled are a Restricted Allowance 11 (NW2) event over 1,600 metres for colts, geldings and fillies, a maiden condition race 1,000 metres straight for colts, geldings and fillies, and a maiden condition event for fillies over 1,100 metres round.

In the first of the three-year-old races which starts the programme at noon, Bella In Bloom from the Wayne DaCosta camp with Wesley Henry up, Tallawah ridden by Trevor Simpson from the barn of Anthony Nunes, The Smoker trained by Noel Ennevor and ridden by Paul Francis along with Peace Angel partnered by Oneil Mullings seem to be the leading runners with The Smoker to come out on top.

In the maiden condition race over 1,000 metres straight, the highly-thought of Classy Boy Pete under Winston Griffiths from the stables of Philip Feanny, Ole King Cole trained by Nunes and ridden by Simpson, and Arawak Chief conditioned by Allan "Billy" Williams are the leading lights here, but watch for the first-time runner Lady Chiriya, ridden by Paul Ramsay for trainer Howard Jaghai.

In the fillies maiden race, the winner is likely to come from either Ramada, a first-time runner and half-sister to last year's 2,000 Guineas winner Kamir, Jelisa Way, trained by Rowan Mathie and ridden by Roderick DaCosta, Non Stop from the stables of Donovan Bruce and ridden by Mullings, along with White Diamond conditioned by Feanny with Dalton Brown astride, with Non Stop to lead these home.

Observer's Selections

Race 1: The Smoker
Race 2: Stead Gold
Race 3: Candy Upstairs
Race 4: Lady Chiriya
Race 5: Non Stop
Race 6: Gilnock
Race 7: Asynjur
Race 8: Glorious One
Race 9: Tweed Side
Race 10: High Chase

Executive Class

Gardens with Gravel

Death to the Mullet!