Enjoy Likkle Bit in Fan Appreciation Trophy

Saturday, November 21, 2009 8:06 PM

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By Hurbun Williams Observer writer

Thursday, January 01, 2009

It is Fan Appreciation Day at Caymanas Park today, New Year's Day, where patrons are being allowed free admission to be entertained at a pre-race concert beginning at 11:00 am and riveted by the presence of some of the country's leading entertainers, including Lady Saw and Spice.

Some two hours later, all in the milieu, the 2009 82-raceday programme will open with a nine-race card highlighted by the $550,000 CTL Fan Appreciation Day Trophy over 2,200 metres, and the $635,000 New Year's Day Trophy over 1,300 metres. First post is at 1:05 pm.

Spaceman, under Shane Ellis, romping home the Rimsky Trophy by a widening 6 1/2 lengths at Caymanas Park last Saturday. (Photo: Hurbun Williams)

The Fan Appreciation Day Trophy, an Overnight Allowance Grade 111 event for three-year-olds and upward, has attracted nine starters headed by the American-bred Likkle Bit.

A four-year-old bay colt by Family Calling out of Herecomethegirl (Northern Flagship), he is yet to win beyond 1,500 metres, but will not be the least distressed by the longer trip. He is a colt that showed in the past that he has the ability to win races running on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and having been well primed for the test of his staying qualities with two closing runs on last in which he finished second twice over 1,600 and 1,400 metres, respectively, winning could be only a stone's throw away with the champion rider Omar Walker.

There are few known out-and-out stayers in the field, notably Il Caimano, I Am Paid For and Special Cat. However, with Il Caimano, who on earlier performances showed that he is a cut above his local counterparts, finished a disappointing last of six behind Rum Talk in the Harry Jackson on Boxing Day and does not look to be the horse he was as a three-year-old, which could rule him out.

On the other hand, Il Caimano did run well at this level over 1,700 metres on November 22 to go down by a short head to the racing machine Satisfier. So if his last run in the Harry Jackson was just for the exercise and he is in fact in truly good health, then he can be expected to be around at the finish with Everton Miller astride.

I Am Paid For, the mount of Jason Simpson, has been showing a bit more aggression in his running of late but spent most of his racing career at this level and has never been very effective in this type of company.

Special Cat is a sly customer and although she may seem out of class with the lightweight, she could cause some amount of worry late in the event with Javour Simpson up.

Last but not least is Regal Selection with Shane Ellis at the helm. Like Likkle Bit, Regal Selection is a late-kicking four-year-old bay colt by Natural Selection out of Chie Liu Poo (Exceptional) who has the richest form among the runners and the one most likely to seriously challenge his American rival for the major slice of the purse. If his last running and preparation are a true indication of his preparedness for the event, then it is all over, bar the shouting for the other pretenders.

But racing at Caymanas Park is not that simple. A number of things can happen overnight, before and during the race to produce a completely different result to the one anticipated. Nonetheless, from all indications the winner is more than likely to be either Likkle Bit or Regal Selection, with a slight edge going to the American import by the mere presence of his favourite rider and champion jockey Walker doing duty in the saddle.

Ones To Watch
Race 1 Fire D Trainer (Omar Walker)
Race 2 Medstar (Andre Martin)
Race 3 Gospel Notebook (Harriston Lewis)
Race 4 My Thunder (Clive Lynch)
Race 5 Brotherly Love (Omar Walker)
Race 6 Forever Mine (Winston Griffiths)
Race 7 Red Lion (Omar Walker)
Race 8 Likkle Bit (Omar Walker)
Race 9 El Pequeno (Dane Nelson)

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