THE Long Shot Trophy, $180,000 claimers’ Derby, is the headliner on a nine-race card at Caymanas Park today, scheduled for approximately 5:00 pm with first post at 1:30 pm.

The event will be contested over a distance of 1,300 metres and has attracted a complement of 11 runners. Among them are a fit bunch of horses that include recent winners Mr Butcher, Mr Fabulous, Latent Power, Balak and Sankofa who will report in good condition for his 2012 opener, along with the consistent Centya.

The competitiveness of the field is testing, but from all indications, judging from the most recent performances, it is expected that one of aforementioned horses could escape the field in the drive to take home the major share of the $438,000 purse on offer for the $180,000 claimers event (five-year-old upward) who have started for a similar tag since exactly four months ago.

Mr Burcher, who likes winning races, has won three of his last four and finished second in the other. An eight-year-old dark bay son of Hail Orphan out of Hot Chillybeans (Feel The Power) and bred by Radcliffe Thompson, Mr Butcher is owned by Alphanso D Jackson and trained by Phillip Elliott.

Mr Butcher has not won farther than 1,100 metres in his last 10 starts, but is quite a genuine and consistent sort who has in the past won at much longer distances.

Chasing a hat-trick of wins, the son Hail Orphan will be at the heart of the battle at the business end, seeking to maintain his winning attitude.

Richard Lunan, who rode Mr Butcher to four wins in his last eight starts, will again have the leg up.

Sankofa, who rattled up back-to-back wins over longer distances in October and November, will not be troubled by the reduction in journey despite the presence of the speedy roan mare, Centya.

Owned by Basil K Brown and trained by Paul Charlton, Sankofa, a nine-year-old chestnut gelding by Royal Minister out of Dance Parade (Schism), bred by Dr Aston Marsh, was plagued with lameness for most of his earlier career.

But he returned to racing last year and rattled off four of his seven wins from 27 career starts with Omar Walker astride. Following wins at this level and on a $210,000 tag in November, Sankofa was stepped up to a $325,000 with an unsatisfactory result, hence, his return to two classes down to where he is fully effective.

Walker, who rode the gelded son of Royal Minister in his last seven starts, is again retained by trainer Charlton. Despite the good recent form of the two leading proponents, the five-year-old gelded son of Legal Process is another in the line-up who could spring a surprise on the field with a decent performance with a trophy at stake.

Hailing from the in-form stables of Victor Williams, Balak failed to show among a better class of $180,000 claimers on last. That none effort was over the straight course, but now riding the bends with jockey Clive Lynch replacing the apprentice Aaron Chatrie, the O’Shaun Connection gelding could turn the form around with a more purposeful effort, having pleased in his preparations.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Perfect Flyer (Jevvanne Erwin)

Race 2 Prince Andrew (Winston Griffiths)

Race 3 All Correct (Dane Nelson)

Race 4 Eighteen Karat (Dane Nelson)

Race 5 Bays Report (Chris Douglas)

Race 6 Wild Glitz (Peter Clunis)

Race 7 Antoinette (Dane Nelson)

Race 8 Balak (Clive Lynch)

Race 9 Rose Gold (Richard Mairs)