ERGASIA, a bold front-running five-year-old bay gelding, takes another step up in class once more to face formidable opposition among $550,000 – $500,000 claimers over 1600 metres in the City Of Kingston Centenary Cup feature at Caymanas Park today.

Nine races are carded. Post time for the 1600 metres City Of Kingston feature is slated for approximately 4:45 pm, with first post at 1:00 pm.

Owned by Gerald R Bartley and trained by George Moo-Young, Ergasia, who will enter the contest at 54.0kg for 3.0kg claiming apprentice Ansley Dancel, has already won twice over the distance in his last five starts in the lower claiming spread. However, the in-form son of Pat N Jac out of the Star Of Manila mare Dona Valenti bred by Glenlee A Robinson will now test his virtuosity against a somewhat more capable group of three-year-olds upward and native-bred four-year-olds (NW4) as he goes in search of the major slice of the $570,000 purse on offer.

A field of 12 will face the starter and from among these the most potent threat to an Ergasia victory could come from Likkle Bit, Gershwin — who will be running among claiming company for the very first time — Doctor Devious, the American imported bay mare Princess Amoya, Awesome Marque and the sneaking Wait Awhile.

All these and a few more may also run well enough to surprise, but from recent evidence, only possibly Wait Awhile will be able to get between Ergasia, Likkle Bit, Doctor Devious, Awesome Marque and Princess Amoya.

Likkle Bit, a tough seven-year-old bay gelding by Family Calling out of Herecomesthegirls (Northern Flagship) and bred by Lawrence Heffes in the USA, is the one surest to give the claiming apprentice Dancel and Ergasia most to do in the closing stages.

Prepared for the race by Gary Subratie and ridden by Omar Walker, Likkle Bit failed in his bid for the hat-trick under top weight on February 22 but did, however, beat a good field over today’s distance on January 28 at the lower level.

Up in grade for this as well as up in the scales at 57.0kg, the ultra-consistent gelded son of Family Calling will face a little more by way of competition, but is a genuine performer over the trip and even though finishing 3 1/4 lengths second behind Ergasia over the distance on February 22, could return with a command performance in the hands of favourite jockey Omar Walker.

Were of these two to fail in their bid for victory, Wait Awhile, partnered by Paul Francis, and Doctor Devious, ridden by Shane Ellis, could use light imposts to create an opportunity to return to the winner’s circle.