BY HURBUN WILLIAMS

Observer writer

WITH approximately 19 days of thoroughbred racing remaining at Caymanas Park before the end of the current season, the race for the jockeys’ championship is at boiling point with a one race space separating the top three protagonists.

Leader Shane Ellis is on 61 wins, Dick Cardenas on 60 and champion jockey Omar Walker on 59.

And this could become one of the major highlights of today’s racing spectacle since each has good rides on the knotty-looking nine-race midweek card that is without a sponsored event.

At a glance, these positions look certain to experience some reversals at the end of the programme which is headlined by a competitive penultimate eighth-race scamper for Overnight Allowance, three-year-olds upward, over 1200m in which all three are featured with pretty good rides.

However, while the progress of the leading riders will be followed with keen intererst throughout the day, the business at hand for punters will be on which of the races they choose to spend their racing dollar.

The Overnight Allowance anchor will be a major focusing point with the American-bred filly Fluffy stepping down in grade to get back on the winning trail among capable opposition.

Despite the competitive nature of the field, they will all have to beat Fluffy.

A fleet-of-foot four-year-old dark bay/brown filly by Chelsea Cat out of Carol’s Littlebit (Above Normal), bred by Nancy Shuford in the USA and own by Elizabeth DaCosta & Edmund Thomas, Fluffy — after four unsuccessful runs in the Grade above — returns to the grade of her last win in April.

When she last ran in the grade and over today’s distance, she was beaten by none other than Dance So Sweet, and this was only by a short head.

Prepared for the races by champion and leading trainer Wayne DaCosta, the daughter of Chelsea Cat ran a gallant race behind stablemate Sir Von and Hombre over 1400 metres on last and since then, has looked even sharper in her preparations.

With the leading trainer opting for the leading reinsman to do duty, Fluffy looks to have more than an even chance of visiting the winner’s enclosure for the second time this season.

Another in the line-up who could prove very competitive is the proven campaigner, Antioch, who has also campaigned in Open Allowance company with fair success, but who since the season began has been trying to record her sixth career win but has so far failed.

She, however, seems to be edging back to useful form and is sure to make an impact.

Si Puedo is yet to win at this level after four attempts but has been well trained. JR’s Dream was a recent winner over the distance in the grade below and after the four-year-old closing attempt over 1100 metres in the grade on August 13, could go close.

Undaunted, in his last two runs, is showing some of his old verve heading back to the type of form which gave him great consideration three or so years ago, and having finished a good second and a third in the grade is evidence of returning form.

Oasis will enter at a convenient mark but is yet to win at this level. He has given though hint of the quality to do well in the grade, but like Undaunted, the distance may prove to be an obstacle, judging from the pace shape of the event and the finishing quality of the principals.

This therefore leaves JR’s Dream, the mount of Walker, Antioch, partnered by Wesley Henry, and Si Puedo, ridden by Cardenas, as the main danger to a Fluffy victory.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Skipping Michelle (Omar Walker)

Race 2 Time Of Storm (Dick Cardenas)

Race 3 Nasatal (Omar Walker)

Race 4 Ganster (Robert Halledeen)

Race 5 Jovoun The Master (Shane Ellis)

Race 6 Son Of India (Shane Ellis)

Race 7 Awesome Annette (Omar Walker)

Race 8 Fluffy (Shane Ellis)

Race 9 Primerlinian (Dick Cardenas)

Cold Ground under a smooth ride from Winston Griffiths strides to victory in the Seek Customer Trophy over 2,000 metres at Caymanas Park last Saturday. (Photo: Hurbun Williams)