PROMPTED by a sharp and encouraging performance over a distance short of his best behind Sir Von at 1,400 metres three weeks ago, Hombre returns for action in keen competitive shape to seek his third consecutive win in the $786,000 Nigel B Nunes Memorial Cup Open Allowance feature over his pet trip of 1,820 metres at Caymanas Park today at 5:05 pm.

The 10-race programme also offers two other trophy races on the card that include the $528,000 Oswald “Ossie” Steele Memorial Cup, a $450,000 – $400,000 claiming event for three-year-olds and upward and native-bred five-year-olds (NW4) over 1,200 metres, and the $715,000 Rhoel Rhoden Memorial Trophy, a maiden special weight sharp dash for native-bred two-year-olds over 1,100 metres.

The highly competitive card is completed by an Overnight Allowance for three-year-olds and upward over 1,100 metres, along with Race #17 in Series #3 of the $735,000 Alex’s Imports Ltd ‘Dig Out Handicap’ Restricted Allowance 11 event for native-bred three-year-olds (NW2) and imported three-year-olds and upward maidens over 1,600 metres, which as usual will bring the curtains down on the programme at approximately 5:35 pm. First post at 12:40 pm.

Always a very competitive event, this year’s edition maintains the tradition as no less than five of the seven runners entered are quite capable of winning, but it does look to be a straight fight between trip specialist Hombre, the American-bred Little Wasp and the two three-year-old upstarts, Derby winner Technomoto and St Leger mastermind Commanding Chief.

Both Technomoto and Commanding Chief have age in their favour and are expected to be on top of their game coming into the event with the Superstakes just around the corner.

On immediate past performance the most likely of the two to take a hand in the finish is Commanding Chief. A chestnut gelding by War Marshall out of She Knows Beau (Beau Genius) bred by Paul Chen and owned by Doks Stable, Commanding Chief prepared for the races by Everal Francis is a smart and consistent galloper who remains unbeaten from three starts.

And the manner in which he has won his races by respectable distances will suggest that he is of real quality and could cause anxious moments for his senior rivals in the rush for the wire.

However, both Hombre and Little Wasp are seasoned Open Allowance campers, who are also sharpening themselves up for the Superstakes, and being lovers of the two-turn distance can enhance their preparations for the big day with useful performances that could deny the young guns parity.

Hombre, a six-year-old bay gelding by Pat N Jac out of Muchacha Favorita (Slick Trick) and bred and owned by Wassel G Burnett, is the most gifted of the runners over this trip and after announcing his well-being over 1,400 metres behind Sir Von, who went on the brush aside Mark My Word over 2,000 metres, the gelding seems to be back to his best and could register win number three in the event.

One of Hombre’s more memorable victories over today’s distance was against Mark My Word and The Guv with all three sitting on level weights. Prepared for the races by Noel Ennevor, Hombre will enjoy no such luxury against the two talented three-year-olds and will have to be at his very best to take this trophy back to his barn for the third time as he and Little Wasp will be saddled with top weight of 57.0kg.

Jockey Andre Martin, who knows Hombre best, has again been retained by trainer Ennevor.

Despite expecting to win for a third-time victory shan’t be easy in coming. Technomoto and Commanding Chief aside, Hombre should have his hands full containing Little Wasp, the mount of title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis.Ones To Watch

Race 1 Meelo (Dick Cardenas)

Race 2 Medstar (Jevvanne Erwin)

Race 3 Rio Cobre (Shane Ellis)

Race 4 Miss May (Omar Walker)

Race 5 Royal Blast (Tevor Simpson)

Race 6 Poochi Liu (Oneil Mullings)

Race 7 Trial Lawyer (Shane Ellis)

Race 8 Diabolical Kid (Shane Ellis)

Race 9 Hombre (Andre Martin)

Race 10 Rivers Of Babylon (Dane Nelson)