EASILY the most intriguing draw in recent history of thoroughbred racing will take place at Caymanas Park today when the classy imported colt Blast Them Away takes on eight rivals other than three-year-olds as the heavy favourites in the 42nd running of the Graded Stakes $1,500,000 Catherine’s Peak Gold Cup.

Blast Them Away — a winner of his last three races and a narrow loser in the Lotto Sprint earlier to the now retired fabulous record-setting mare Saint Cecelia, and the leading money earner among imported horses — was assigned post #7 when lots were drawn for the 1,400 metres Gold Cup.

The Gold Cup is the highlighter of the two-trophy 10-race card with other trophy call being the Purewater $715,000 Andrew HB Aguilar Memorial Cup, maiden special weight call for native-bred two-year-olds going 1,600 metres. Here the Dane Nelson-ridden, Richard Azan-trained bay colt Unbreakable posted as the morning line favourite.

The Gold Cup highlighter is the penultimate race on the card and has a scheduled post at 4:20 pm with first post at noon.

With the retirement of the fabulous mare Saint Cecelia, today’s opposition does not look nearly as foreboding as Blast Them Away faced earlier in his 17 career races with mixed results.

Prepared with the expectation to maintain his winning streak, there is great hope that Blast Them Away will not disappoint and continue on his winning ways. Dick Cardenas has the call for trainer Wayne DaCosta.

Nonetheless, there are a few horses in the field with credentials that are quite decent and who themselves have already won Grade I races and possess the ability to seriously challenge Blast Them Away at the distance.

Among them are his stablemate Classy Prospect and Commanding Chief trained by Everal Francis. The likes of the front-running Uppa Tune and the late closing Go Go Yvonne will come in for a testing time when the wire beckons.