Alex’s Imports Ltd ‘Dig-Out Handicap’ Race #14 of Series Two is the anchor at Caymanas Park today, coupled with the $492,000 Altamont V Armond Memorial Cup feature, the closing event on the 10-race card.

Despite the prominence and strategic placing which the event holds, the countdown to the three-year-old classic season which is now in full swing, naturally the three native-bred three-year-old events (two for maidens) on the card are much more than fillers.

The first, a maiden special weight contest over 1,400 metres, has attracted a field of 13 with the Elias Haloute and Stephen Narinesingh’s attractive colt Technomoto taking on the distance for the first time in his second career start.

When running for the first time on January 22, the bay colt by Western Classic out of Sea Treaty (Law Of The Sea) failed to deliver as the 3-5 favourite running over 1,000 metres round by finishing 4 1/2 lengths third to the more experienced Mohegan.

While he gave a good display after being hindered at the start, it was obvious that he wanted a longer trip to show his true worth by the way he began to lay out at the tail end of the sprint.

Since then, he appears to have gone from strength to strength, as he looked a picture of improvement in his exercise gallops. Prepared for the race by Anthony Nunes, the son of Western Classic looks a certainty to be a winner on this occasion with Nunes calling up Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas to replace Dane Nelson.

The second, a Restricted Allowance 11 for native-bred three-year-olds (NW2) and imported four-year-olds and upward maidens is the most competitive of the lot.

While no imports are lined up, seven of the most advanced native-bred three-year-olds will contest the 1,100 metres dash that could turn the event into the real highlight of the day’s entertainment.

Joseph Duany’s chestnut filly Caribdad, Elite Bloodstock Limited’s Winchester and Herbious Corpus, Kenval Wallace’s Big Man Boyu, Farasfhal Farm’s Niphal and WB Racing’s Golden Image are among the leading contenders.

All being winners, only Golden Image and Niphal have not won over the round course and for the winners the most impressive was Niphal. However the Philip Feanny-prepared Caribdad, who ran encouragingly to finish sixth in the Supreme Ventures Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes on Boxing Day looks well prepared to make her three-year-old debut on a winning note.

By Skipping out of Mylegacy, Caribdad has already won over today’s distance as a juvenile but two of her principal rivals Niphal (as a juvenile) and Big Man Boyu have also scored notable wins on the round course going a little farther. They have also worked pretty well coming into the race and could inspire the daughter of Skipping to dig deep to get her three-year-old career going with a win the first time of asking.

Sensing that this will be no cake walk, trainer Feanny has gone for the experience of the five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson to partner his filly.

The third three-year-old race is a maiden condition contest over 1,100 metres and has attracted 14 starters. Care Syndicate’s The Messenger, who just failed to land the gamble on last over the straight course, is again expected to start favourite in an event which she lost by 4 1/4 lengths on New Year’s Day. However, with the out-of-class Jet Setter not around, the bay colt by Saint Appeal out of Sophisticated Mama (Prospector’s Gamble) should make amends though he is up against a few capable rivals in Madura Gold, The Primemerlinian, Notus and the first time runner She’s Spectacular hailing from the barn of Feanny.