Following her narrow loss over 1,200 metres on April 9, imported filly Fluffy returns in a seemingly militant mood primed to capsize what appears to be a fit-looking nine-horse field in another $715,000 Overnight Allowance encounter at Caymanas Park today and get her four-year-old winning account going.

The event will be contested over 1,500 metres on the 10-race card at approximately 5:15 pm. First post at 12:45 pm.

The $480,600 Joshua Morrison Memorial Cup, a Restricted Allowance V for native-bred four-year-olds and upward (NW2) is the designated feature which also features the programme-closing $482,000 Alex’s Imports Ltd ‘Dig Out Handicap’ Race #30 – Series #2.

But the penultimate ninth race where Fluffy is seeking to release her maiden four-year-old tag will take centrestage as a win here could provide champion trainer Wayne DaCosta with valuable purse money in an attempt to help close the gap on leading trainer Gary Subratie.

Owned by Elizabeth DaCosta & Edmond Thomas, Fluffy, a dark bay/brown filly by Chelsea Cat out of Carol’s Littlebit (Above Normal) and bred by Nancy C Shuford went down by a short head in a driving finish to fellow American-bred filly Dance So Sweet, trained by Subratie over 1,200 metres.

This was a fortnight ago. She returns to the races in even better condition and with the distance increased this also enhances her chance of making amends. This is even in the face of taking on a bunch of seasoned Overnight Allowance campaigners over a distance she will be attempting for the first time.

A winner of six races as a three-year-old from nine starts, Fluffy has failed to visit the winner’s enclosure since July of last year when she scored the last of her six wins at the higher level. Since then she has had five races from which she has failed to sparkle except for her April 9 fighting effort over a distance that could be considered short of her best. It was her third race of her four-year-old season and the effort signalled a return to good form.

While the daughter of Chelsea Cat looks a cut above her eight rivals, trainer DaCosta seems not to be taking anything for granted and has dispensed with the services of the claiming apprentice and called for the more capable handling of the former champion jockey Wesley Henry to make doubly sure.

The field seems to be quite a fit one and the morning line favourite could expect competitive efforts from the ultra-consistent Machismo ridden by Dick Cardenas for trainer Anthony Nunes, stablemate Regal Selection ridden by Aaron Chatrie, Vonnalmighty, Esquire and Burning Cielo ridden by Omar Walker for trainer by Fitzgerald Richards, who is the only winner in the class from the last 10 starts.

Running at this level in November Burning Cielo was a convincing winner ridden by Walker. He then moved up to Open Allowance where he performed creditably. But after being turned back at the gates for lameness in his February 26 engagement over the distance, he has taken a step down in class with top weight of 56.0kg. Since then the five-year-old bay gelding seems to have overcome his lameness judging from how well he has responded to his exercise gallops for the event. This could be significant as he could be the one to give Fluffy most to consider, especially with Walker again in the saddle. However, based on current form Fluffy is the one to lead them home.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Global Warming (Richard Mitchell)

Race 2 Western Genius (Omar Walker)

Race 3 Clever Cherokee (Winston Griffiths)

Race 4 Out For Justice (Rayan Wilson)

Race 5 Sir South (Omar Walker)

Race 6 Champion Links (Aaron Chatrie)

Race 7 Grand Cabaret (Aaron Chatrie)

Race 8 Orion (Larris Allen)

Race 9 Fluffy (Wesley Henry)

Race 10 La Vida Loca (Richard Mairs)