WHAT appears to be a tricky-looking Roderick ‘Pilot’ Francis Memorial Trophy penultimate call takes centre stage on the nine-race card at Caymanas Park today.

Sponsored by B&D Trawling, the Roderick Francis Trophy has attracted a field of 10 $180,000 claimers, four-years-old and upwards, that has started for a claiming tag of $180,000 since November 8 last year.

Going 1,200 metres for a purse of $388,000, the Roderick Francis Memorial Trophy could test even the most knowledgeable tipster with some former useful and talented runners competing and who are campaigning at this level because of some problem or other with their physical and mental well-being yet are still capable of earning their upkeep.

The Roderick Francis highlighter is scheduled to go to post at approximately 4:30 pm with first post at 12:50 pm.

The most celebrated among these runners is Fabulousconnection. Being well bred and talented, a sound Fabulousconnection would have been campaigning at least at the level of Overnight Allowance, but here he is campaigning at the bottom of the claiming tier and not without success.

Trained by Phillip Elliott for owner Basil C Waite, the six-year-old gelded son of Skipping is one of the most recent winner going the distance present and even with top weight of 57.0kg with his known class has as good a chance as any to land the gamble with the return to the saddle of jockey Robert Halledeen.

Halledeen had earlier taken Fabulousconnection to victory going today’s distance on February 1.

Eusebia, a five-year-old chestnut filly who filled the runner-up slot to Fabulousconnection, is here again. Having sat on level weights when the two last met and going down by a length, Eusebia will come in with 4.0kg swing against sitting on level weights of 55.0kg when they last met. This swing should therefore increase the chances of Eusebia, Richard Mitchell up in place of Dane Nelson, to reverse the placings.

That’s all good and well, but another rival Get Them Girl who was also a winner over the distance on the day Fabulousconnection won, is among a number of other pretenders in the competitive field.

Trained by Nicholas Edwards, the four-year-old bay filly, Get Them Girl, has not been seen at exercise much but has had two good outings since her last victory, and with trainer Edwards calling for the services of the champion jockey Dane Nelson, has greatly enhanced the filly’s chances of a repeat victory for owner Errol Subratie.

The likes of Marci The Butcher with Omar Walker up, Sankofa the mount of Trevor Simpson, Gold Rush with the inform claiming apprentice Obrien White along with Social Butterfly and Notus should make the running of the event interesting.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 This Is It (Dick Cardenas)

Race 2 Empress Fluffy (Dane Nelson)

Race 3 Rules Of The Cat (Dane Nelson)

Race 4 She’s Plummy (Andre Martin)

Race 5 Dior (Jevvanne Erwin)

Race 6 Reign Over All (Omar Walker)

Race 7 Winit (Dane Nelson)

Race 8 Get Them Girl (Dane Nelson)

Race 9 Remember Me (Ryan Nelson)