WITHOUT a designated feature on the 10-race mid-week racing card at Caymanas Park today, the spicy-looking ninth race looks set to take centre stage.

A Restricted Stakes call for imported three-year-olds and upward (NW3) and maidens and native-bred four-year-olds (NW3) other than and native-bred three-year-olds, the selected highlighter has attracted a lively field of seven going 1,100 metres for a purse of $768,000.

Post time is set at approximately 5:00 pm with the first post at 1:15 pm.

The fairly consistent Royal Assault has shown good credentials to start favourite for this race after scoring back-to-back second-place finishes in his most recent outings while sprinting, and with his two career wins having been achieved over today’s journey, he could be in the money.

Prepared by trainer Anthony Nunes, Royal Assault has been drilled for winning coming into the race, and being bred for speed by Pepsi Lodge out of Mayken Joy, the speedy chestnut colt looks set to go one better than his last two attempts.

Shane Ellis, who was aboard on last, will continue in the tack. Despite his preparedness for victory, though, there are at least three other budding three-year-olds in the line-up who are also capable of leading the pack home.

Wings Of Hope, Shining Light and Dwayne Star have shown enough spunk in their career races to take a hand in the outcome. Of these rivals, the most potent danger to Royal Assault continuing his dominance of the short sprints while riding the bends is Wings Of Hope.

He has also been well-drilled to be fully effective over 1,100 metres, but would have preferred it a tad longer, However, the son of Region Of Merit with only a feather of 50.0kg to carry and the in-form Wesley Henry up, is expected to be in the mix from the off to the very end.

Shining Light, probably not the speediest of his opponents, does have good pace. He has worked well coming into the race and should not be completely overlooked.

Trainer Gary Griffiths has prepared the Seeking The Glory chestnut colt for a good showing and can prove to be more competitive than most. His favoured rider, Shamaree Muir, remains in the irons.

Dwayne Star, trained by Patrick Lynch, is a capable sprinter with good speed. His two career wins, however, were achieved while going straight. But now while riding the bends, even with his most trusted rider Robert Halledeen up, a minor share looks his best hope.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Darlin (Robert Halledeen)

Race 2 El Patron (Chalrick Budhai)

Race 3 Sheza Spy (Wesley Henry)

Race 4 Elvira (Robert Halledeen)

Race 5 Blue Eyed Boy (Shane Ellis)

Race 6 Genuine Article (Richard Lunan)

Race 7 Israelite (Omar Walker)

Race 8 Sweet Dimension (Robert Halledeen)

Race 9 Royal Assault (Shane Ellis)

Race 10 Diamond (Shane Ellis)