ANOTHER quality 10 races is scheduled for today’s midweek programme at Caymanas Park, with the $528,000 Tewfic Ziadie Memorial Cup being the

main event.

However, the undercard will feature two three-year-old races with a number of Classic hopefuls as they continue on the road to the Guineas Classics

on April 5 and beyond. First post is 1:10 pm.

The rejuvenated Il Caimano will head the field of 11 for the Tewfic Ziadie feature over 1,820 metres after his dominant performance in his last two races which was won by a combination of 25 1/2 lengths, and being well suited to the journey at hand, is poised to complete the hat-trick for more than two seasons.

A former top-class performer who was the winner of the Lotto Classic for the Governor’s Cup as a three-year-old, Il Caimano later proved difficult to train and only managed to win two more races after that.

The six-year-old gelding son of Royal Minister out of Needles Last (Romantic Lead), however, seemed to have found a new lease on his racing life after being claimed out of an event over today’s journey by trainer Lawrence Freemantle for a modest tag of $300,000. That was on December 23.

Thirty-eight days later, Freemantle did his thing and brought the former top-class performer back to the races on January on 30 to run on an even lower tag for $250,000 but over a distance of 1,500 metres over which he had already distinguished himself before falling to this level.

While trainer Freemantle had expected Il Caimano to win, the manner in which he did was remarkable as he gained the victory by 19 1/2 widening lengths and in a time of 1:35.1. Announcing his return to form, Il Caimano was moved up to a $350,000 tag where showed the down in grade and in-form Rule By Secrecy a clean pair of heels with a gate to wire victory by six lengths over 1,600 metres in 1:41.1 a time which is much better than $350,000.

Now back up to a $450,000 tag, Il Caimano will face his sternest test since November of last year when he finished 46 3/4 lengths sixth of six over 1,600 metres.

In that race Rifleman, who is one of his main rival in today’s run, finished 8 1/4 lengths third as he took a step down in grade as Il Caimano took a step up.

While Rifleman has a victory over today’s distance in his previous 10 starts and a good third-placed finish on December 23, Il Caimano has none to show, but it will take a very good performance to prevent him from going all the way for his third consecutive win.