Saunders Mem takes spotlight at Caymanas
WITH the blossoming of the native-bred two-year-old season in full swing, the $715,000 Lester Saunders Memorial Trophy feature will provide further opportunity for twoyear-old maidens to come forward as prospects for the SVL rich two-year-old Series that will continue next month with race number two in the juvenile Triple Series.
However, while the two-yearolds are given principal feature status it is the $786,000 Open Allowance dash over 1,100 metres among three-year-olds upward which could really highlight the shortened eightrace card animated by the presence of speedball Prince Theo, Al Fuozia, Antioch, Machismo, and Regal Sensation present. First post at 1:25 pm.
At a glance, the Lester Saunders field of seven does not excite but Elite Bloodstock Limited’s chestnut colt Erasmo by Sir Cherokee out of You Can’t Hide (Alphabet Soup) and bred at Ham Stables Ltd has trained well to meet the ocassion and looks certain to give a good showing this time around.
When brought to the races for the first time by trainer Richard Azan who is also a part/owner, Erasmo bolted on debut and was disqualified at the gates. However, with better behaviour on his return to the races nine days later the son of Sir Cherokee who looks well advance should make light work of this field having shown his readiness for a winning debut run in his exercise build up. Striding out effortlessly Erasmo galloped 1,600 metres in a tidy 1:47.3 with the first 1,400 metres coming in an easy 1:30.4 in his final workout on the track last Thursday morning. Dick Cardenas will ride.
Another who has shown promise and can come into his own is Dynamic Move. A bay colt by Summit Storm out of Hello Baby (Schism), bred and owned by Leon Swack and Noel Williams, Dynamic Move has raced five times and showed on last when stretch out to 1,300 metres that he will enjoy longer distances.
And with the journey again increased by 100 metres and a trophy at stake, Dynamic Move, conditioned by Victor Williams, is given enough incentive to show whether or not he has the big times in his sights.
Devon A Thomas, who has already rode the colt on two previous occasions, gets the call.
Edward Walker’s owned and trained Princechad, who weakened appreciably over 1,300 metres on last, could be a motivating factor for good performances from the small field. Unable to match strides in his last encounter, the speedy son of Storm Craft out of Borcellino (Robellino), bred by John Hamilton, has had a change of jockey, with Shane Ellis taking over the reins from Rayan Wilson. Such a move could prove decisive.
With less speed with which to contend among these and Walker calling upon Ellis for his meticulous handling of speedy juveniles, Princechad could set off in front and make every post a winning one, even in the presence of Erasmo and Dynamic Move.
Homing Boy, trained by Collin Blair, is of fair ability and has possiblities, but his exercise reports may exclude him from the top three places.
