AGEING but resilient galloper, the Trinidad and Tobago-bred Tobago, steps three classes down the claiming rung to seek win No 19 among $350,000-$300,000 claimers in the Violet Armond Memorial Cup feature of the nine-race midweek card at Caymanas Park today at 4:45 pm. First post is 1:45 pm.

The day’s anchor will be contested over 1,600m and will be among three-year-olds and upward for the claiming range, as well as for native-bred five-year-olds (NW3) and should the underfoot condition remain soft, the 10-year-old bay gelding looks to have more than a decent chance of accomplishing his aim.

Trained by Welsh Soutar, who has won a number of races with the faithful warrior, the Fire House Connection bay gelded son of Kdanzc out of Nuclear Explosion (Beau Genius) and bred by Ruth Hussey had two disappointing runs in the classes above — the last on a $550,000 tag.

He, however, ran encouragingly and won on a $400,000 tag over 1,300m on April 25 and being well suited to today’s distance, could return to winning ways from a capital effort.

To face the starter at a competitive weight in the 10-horse field, Soutar has replaced 4.0kg claiming apprentice Arthur Budhu with 3.0kg claiming apprentice Michael Grant aboard Tobago to come in at a lively 54.0kg

Despite being the premier talent in the group, even at his age, Tobago has done most of his preparation at the Equine Pool and will have to be nearly at his best to out-distance opponents like Western Genius, Tricky Train and recent winners Seek Gold and White Star.

Meanwhile, Wassel Burnett’s home-bred, six-year-old bay gelding, Hombre returns to the races for the first time since decimating a good field over 1,820 metres in mid-January in search of a hat-trick of wins.

Trained by Noel Ennevor, the son of Pat N Jac will again face another good field of Open Allowance rivals to contest 1,600 metres, but while just as comfortable over the distance as over his pet trip of 1,820 metres, he will have to work much harder to complete the hat-trick which started in mid-December with victory over today’s distance. Ones To Watch

Race 1 May Fay (Omar Walker)

Race 2 Appointmentforkerry (Robert Halledeen)

Race 3 Yes We Will (Robert Halledeen)

Race 4 Trend Setter (Brian Harding)

Race 5 Real Minister (Aaron Chatrie)

Race 6 The Smoker (Oniel Mullings)

Race 7 Tobago (Michael Grant)

Race 8 Fluffy (Dane Nelson)

Race 9 Simply Outstanding (Jevvanne Erwin)