AS the sun goes down on Superstakes day when native-bred three-year-olds and upward stand a chance of winning their biggest purse for the season, the process of buying and grooming a horse for that prize and more begins tomorrow with the TOBA Yearling Sale at Caymanas Official Car Park, where a total of 157 lots will be on offer.

The 35th running of the Superstakes, sponsored by Talawah, has attracted a competitive field of 13 runners going 2,000 metres for a purse of $4.5 million.

Among the top contenders scheduled to go to post are this year’s and last year’s Derby and St Leger winners Perfect Neighbour and Typewriter, respectively; 2009 Superstakes winner Hombre; last year’s runner-up Classy Prospect; 2011 St Leger winner Commanding Chief, last year’s Oaks winner Exotic Gold; this year’s Oaks winner Lady Abhijita; along with the rapidly improving Rum Punch and with Raging Prospect, a very consistent galloper over extreme distances.

Designated the headliner of a competitive four-trophied 13-race card, the Talawah Superstakes is the penultimate race on the card and is scheduled to go to post at approximately 4:35 pm, with first post at 11:00 pm.

The programme will be further highlighted by three other races that will provide competition for runners in shorter distances, among them the 26th running of the Talawah Beer Caribbean Sprint going 1,200 metres for a purse of $1.75 million, the 21st running of the Talawah Imported Mile for a purse of $1.25 million, and the seventh running of the Caymanas Juvenile Sprint for native-bred two-year-olds going 1,300 metres for a purse of $1 million.

Taking a close look at the Talawah Superstakes, it is more than likely that the race will be between three runners in Perfect Neighbour, Classy Prospect and Typewriter. Probably not in that exact order, but as a fruit does not fall far from its tree, it is more than likely that these three champion stayers will be around at the finish.

All three runners have been prepared as best as hands can make them and only something unforeseen can intercede to prevent them from being around at the finish. Should all perform up to expectation it would be difficult to choose a winner. But a winner there will be and at the weights, the pick must go to the 2013 Derby and St Leger winner Perfect Neighbour.

True, he will be up against formidable and seasoned A1 campaigning foes.

This Typewriter was a surprising competitor leading up to this event. Beaten by Classy Prospect in a decent time going over today’s journey. Then returned to clip Perfect Neighbour by one and a half lengths going 1,820 metres, and then going down to Commanding Chief, another top competitor in today’s test of stamina shake-up. With all the ups and downs in his last couple of races, the progressive four-year-old bay gelded son of Western Classic out of Doc’s Paladin (Boundary) bred at Ham Stables will relish the test of stamina event and having been very prepared for this more competitive challenge by trainer Spencer Chung for owners Robert F Chung & WP Valentine Chung, he must be among the leading contenders for the major prize. Shane Ellis, who has ridden Typewriter in the majority of his starts, will again be at the helm to navigate the way home.

Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta has a pretty decent hand in the event with four runners. In addition to Perfect Neighbour and Classy Prospect, he also saddles Rum Punch and Exotic Gold, all of whom will get the distance without much fuss. When Exotic Gold won the Oaks last season she clocked one of the fastest times of 2:09 going 2,000 metres. But since then she has been consistent over varying distances as they were others who were probably thought to be much better going that far, so was confined to shorter distances.

Like the rest of her stable buddies she has been well- readied for the fight and can surprise with trainer DaCosta calling for the champion and leading apprentice Shamaree Muir to partner her.

Rum Punch is expected to continue to show improvement and with trainer DaCosta deciding to call up Andrew Ramgeet to partner the gelded son of Deputy Report here, he must be considered among the front-runners, even though he may appear on the surface to lack the class of his three other stablemates.

Perfect Neighbour needs no reminder of his quality he has demonstrated in no simple manner, and should be right there at the death in the hands of the former champion jockey Dick Cardenas. Despite his virtuosity this race is no child’s play and with his stablemate Classy Prospect, ridden by Dane Nelson, prepared to figure seriously in the equation along with Typewriter, Cardenas is expected to keep focus with a clear head, and time his race to perfection to get the glory.

Classy Prospect is from a dam Good Prospect, who was the winner of the Harry Jackson, so carrying 57.0kg going 2,000 metres is something of a cakewalk for him. He has always shown he has the capacity to stay, however, since turning five, he has shown tremendous improvement with consistent performances when stretched out and having worked with great ease in his preparation, is expected to be just as close as last year with no Mark My Word with which to contend.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Breath Of Life (Richard Mitchell)

Race 2 Meru (Shamaree Muir)

Race 3 Bubbling Angeline (Shane Ellis)

Race 4 Spice (Dick Cardenas)

Race 5 Insane Bolt (Dick Cardenas)

Race 6 Trial Lawyer (Omar Walker)

Race 7 Kal Kal (Andrew Ramgeet)

Race 8 John D Linjah (Dane Nelson)

Race 9 Saint Cecelia (Shane Ellis)

Race 10 Doc Holiday (Dane Nelson)

Race 11 Fabulousconnection (Robert Hallideen)

Race 12 Perfect Neighbour (Dick Cardenas)

Race 13 Asia’s Dream (Romario Saunders)