A small but promising field of native-bred three-year-old colts and geldings will highlight the second Sunday racing meet of the new year in the 19th running of the Sir Howard Stakes at Caymanas Park today.

Two trophies are at stake on the nine-race card and in addition to the Restricted Allowance call for native-bred three-year-olds (NW2) for colts and gelding is the George Hosang Trophy among Overnight Allowance campaigners for a purse of $715,000 going 1,000 metres straight.

With impending three-year-old Classic season a stone’s throw away, the day offers a competitive programme of racing for unlike yesterday’s Hot Line Stakes prep where many of the fillies present may never go on to compete in the three-year-old Classics.

Today’s Sir Howard Stakes looks a different ball game altogether as some real promising steppers will line up for an attempt to show individual trainers where their charges stand in terms of Classic aspirations.

In addition to the highly thought of Talented Tony K, are the Carl D Anderson’s bred, owned and trained Mr Awesome, the Wayne DaCosta-prepared Unbelievable, Bigman Bas, the first Alsafra’s progeny to race that is owned by Baskaran Bassawh and trained by Gary Subratie, along with the well-bred Golden Bullett, coming from the stables of Anthony Nunes. They all are winners and have shown worthwhile promise in their short racing lives.

However, none of today’s campaigners has raised a greater furor than Talented Tony K before entering the racing arena. And when he did the bay colt threw in a clinker, but returned shortly afterward to dispel any misgivings in his ability and delivered in stile by romping his next event by all of 10 widening lengths. That indifferent performance was as a two-year-old, but now three years old, great things are expected from Talented Tony K.

Prepared for racing by trainer Lorne Kirlew for owner Jigzy Blades, Talented Tony K, a fairly well-bred and far-striding bay colt by Traditional out of Ocean Liner (Law Of The Sea) bred by Donald Williams will go postward in this quicksilver as favourite among an assemblage of other promising hopefuls in search of the major share of the $900,000 purse going 1,200 metres.

Post time for the Sir Howard principal feature is set to go off at approximately 4:45 pm with first post at 1:15 pm.

Talented Tony K, the mount of Omar Walker, will face his sternest test today, but like his rivals, will do so prepared for the challenge that is expected to come from no less than four of his rivals; the chief among them could be the Wayne DaCosta-trained Unbreakable.

Owned by the champion owner Carlton Watson, Unbreakable has tested the water in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes and was one of two colts that finished in the top four in the event. He reported sick for his Sweet Ruckus assignment and is just returning as a three-year-old. Already a winner at 1,600 metres, the chestnut son of Traditional is no mug going the shorter trip and having work industriously, is expected to give another worthy account of himself. First call stable jockey Dick Cardenas will ride.

Mr Awesome, who had Bigman Bas 7 1/2 lengths back third on debut, looks all set for another stellar performance, but may just have to work a little bit harder in this slightly tougher field to come out on top with the distance reduced.

Be that as it may, and again in the hands of the champion jockey Dane Nelson, they all could be looking at the back of Mr Awesome after he rounds the quarter bend and set down for the drive.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Raja Hindustani (Dane Nelson)

Race 2 Green Beret (Dane Nelson)

Race 3 Agakhan (Dane Nelson)

Race 4 Butler Cabin (Shane Ellis)

Race 5 One Creator (Orlando Foster)

Race 6 The Legacy (Dane Nelson)

Race 7 Fabulousconnection (Michael Grant)

Race 8 Unbreakable (Dick Cardenas)

Race 9 Man Alive (Dane Nelson)