WINSTON Kong’s home-bred dashing four-year-old bay filly Ahwhofah will again be tested as Jamaica’s champion sprinter when she puts her Gold Cup (Grade One) title at stake against a venerable bunch in the 38th renewal of the $1.3 million event over 1,400 metres at Caymanas Park today. First post is 12:25 pm.

The Graded Stakes event has attracted a uniquely competitive field of imported and native-bred three-year-olds and upward, which promises a glut of speed.

A field of 11 has been declared for the premier event and among those who are expected to throw down the gauntlet to the reigning champion sprinter include the imported three-year-old filly Honeyofalady, who defeated her in the None Such Sprint in October; 1,000 Guineas and Oaks heroine Saint Cecelia; Rum Talk; Alsafra, the reigning Horse-Of-The-Year and Ahwhofah’s stable companion, the imported seven-year-old bay gelding, Chadman.

Further to this, the Gold Cup showdown headlines a competitive 10-race card that is well supported by the $715,000 Andrew HB Aguilar Memorial Cup, a maiden special weight event for native-bred two-year-olds over 1,600 metres, another $715,000 Overnight Allowance event for three-year-olds and upward over 1,200 metres and the $536,000 Track Price Plus “Dig Out” Handicap last race bold adventure over 1,400 metres.

With so many lightly weighted opponents to contend Ahwhofah seems hard pressed to retain her title being saddled with 60.5kg to her most challenging opponents who will carry less than 50.0kg.

Only two of the four colts present will carry above 50.0kg: Regal Selection 51.0kg and Rum Talk 52.0kg but are more than likely to carry 53.0kg at post time with Dane Nelson and Brian Harding respectively having the leg up.

At the handicaps sister three-year-old fillies Saint Cecelia and Honeyofalady look to be the real danger to Ahwhofah taking a second hold on the Gold Cup with their light impost of 48.0kg and 48.5kg respectively. However the daughter of Royal Minister is a plucky little galloper who was well conditioned by her champion and leading trainer Wayne DaCosta for the event and being a class act will not be easily beaten even with Saint Cecelia looking invincibly with Panamanian light weight jockey Dick Cardenas up.

Trained by Spencer Chung for owners Stephen A & WP Valentine Chung the chestnut daughter of Burning Marque ran very well over 2,000 metres on last but being basically a sprinter will be seen to better advantage over 1,400 metres which she will be attempting for the first time this season in her nine starts and having worked very well over the distance coming into the event could be the main danger to the champion sprinter.

Honeyofalady who has already won twice over the distance in good times should again be around at the finish with the leading apprentice Doushane Gordon straddling her back.

Ahwhofah’s winning run on last over 1,200 metres showed that her preparations were well on stream and since then has gone through her paces without hitches a condition that should give her trainer every confidence that should she perform to the level of expectations based on her preparation then “she should run a decent race even giving weight all round to some fairly good three-year-olds.”

From nine starts this season Ahwhofah has won five and since winning the Lady Geeta Trophy in April she has never been any worse than third after finishing behind Outstanding and stable mate The Guardian in the Lotto Sprint and second to Honeryofalady.

Jockey Shane Ellis who has been riding for DaCosta since his stable rider Omar Walker has been sidelined after a serious spill gets the call aboard Ahwhofah.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 El (Clive Lynch)

Race 2 Samba Dancer (Dane Nelson)

Race 3 Rigged To Win (Dick Cardenas)

Race 4 Grandi Elani (Trevor Simpson)

Race 5 Mucho Gusto (Brian Harding)

Race 6 General Curlin (Clive Lynch)

Race 7 Sir Archibald (Jevvanne Erwin)

Race 8 Rajput (Richard Mairs)

Race 9 Ahwhofah (Shane Ellis)

Race 10 Bdellium (Kerry-Gayl Robinson)