DESPITE their unimposing appearances on race days, grooms can be considered the weathercock of Jamaican horse racing. And for that, the importance of their industry to horse racing has been palpably recognised with the Grooms Association Day Trophy at Caymanas Park today.

The Grooms race is the eighth on the 10-race card going 1,000 metres straight for a purse of $492,000. Run among the claiming spread of $350,000-$300,000, three-year-olds and upward and native-bred five-year-olds (NW3), the Grooms race headlines a fairly well supported card that will go to post at approximately 4:20 pm with first post at 12:25 pm.

A good field of 12 runners will face the starter. Several from this collection based on past performances can stimulate worthwhile interest for serious consideration. Among them are the super fit mare Country Train, her stablemate and down in grade Classical Train, the hard-knocking Frankenstorm, the perplexing Rock Union and the troubled Smokin Man.

These are very adept over the straight course and could run away with the spoon depending upon how well they report for battle.

Three races ago Smokin Man won over the distance one class above today’s. He was then dropped to two grades down and disappointed. Here he is once again up in grade. This can suggest that a better effort is expected than on last and only 1.0kg heavier. Jockey Rayan Wilson, who rode Smokin Man while in Overnight Allowance on his way down to this level has renewed acquaintances and could now get that win that alluded him in the higher grade.

Country Train, Robert Halledeen up, needs no introduction to winning over the straight course. It is something she makes a habit if doing at all levels at which she has competed. Trainer Harry Parsard, who conditions Country Train from a yearling, saw it fit to reclaim her from her last race and having brought her back so soon at the same level, going over her pet trip, must speak volumes for her chances of repeating.

Be that as it may stablemate Classical Train is no sloth going over the straight, having already won over the distance and having dropped class after a good win on last while rounding the bend, could well upstage his older stablemate. Classical Train will go 2.5kg for jockey Richard Mairs.

Frankenstorm, the mount of claiming apprentice Kuri Powell, has as good a chance of taking the event having been also a fairly consistent performer with a pleasing record over the straight course.

Frankenstorm was a good second to Aunt Hilda on last going 1,100 metres. However, trainer Dennis Lee has elected to remove the cheek pieces and let him run in his accustomed tongue tie and lasix. This move could prove instructive.