Some comparatively fit horses will contest the Millard Ziadie Memorial Cup sprint claiming feature at Caymanas Park today.

None moreso than Frankenstorm, Cheers, Brave Prospect, Uncle G, Battle Song, the sly Di Cobre and of course,Semper Fidelis. Not necessarily in that particular order but most of these could feature prominently in a race of this calling going 1,100 metres for a purse of $560,000.

With 10 races carded, the Millard Ziadie highlighter has attracted 11 runners, three-year-olds and upward, for a claiming tag of $350,000-$300,000 and native-bred five-year-olds and upward (Nw3) carded to go to post at approximately 4:45 pm with the first post at 12:45 pm.

To set the tone for the mid-week racing sprint fiesta, an Overnight Allowance call will open the card with a combustible field of six going 1,000 metres straight for a purse of $780,000. The in-form four-year-old colt Dwayne Star, seeking a three-timer, is expected to battle the elder statesman Rio Cobre, an eight-year-old American import, for parity.

A specialist at the distance, Rio Cobre has not entered the winner’s enclosure since July of last year. Notwithstanding, his first run in January suggested that he was in favourable racing trim and was only waiting for an opportunity to explode. This could be the opportunity to so do. And as evidenced by his brief racing report coming into today’s race he is fit and should now put these away under Omar Walker to open his eight-year-old account even with the twin attack expected from Dwayne Star with Paul Francis, andEdison with Dane Nelson.

While either Rio Cobre, Edison or Dwayne Star could take the opening race, it could prove a little more ticklish to pin down the likely winner in the day’s feature.

From all indications, though, Frankenstorm should get home ahead of this field. However, the five-year-old chestnut geldingSemper Fidelis, down in grade after being beaten on last by a short head over today’s distance in a non-winners of three for five-year-olds and upward, is also in with a decent shot.

Semper Fidelis was not beaten by much on last but is due a win for being a consistent performer over distances such as this and even though the field is tough, must be in with a good shot to land the gamble this time. Owned and trained by Lee Clarke, Semper Fidelis will shoot from barrier 10, a draw that should provide his capable claiming apprentice Linton Steadman with enough time to size up his opponents before making his move for a victory bid.

His most potent danger seems to reside in the presence of Frankenstorm and Cheers. Even with top weight,Cheers, with the distance more to his liking, should perform much better than he did on last going 100 metres farther.

Cheers, claimed out of his last race, will now take orders from trainer Patrick Lynch for owners Errol Alsol & Wassel G Burnett. Shamaree Muir will ride.

Frankenstorm has just finished fifth on a $500,000 claiming tag going 1,000 metres round and was deep in the mix in the early part of the race. He, however, faded in the latter stages of the race to finish 13 lengths fifth to Dwayne Star campaigning in Overnight Allowance company.

The stablemate of the hat-trick seeking Di Cobre, Frankenstorm is also conditioned by Wilfred Chin for owners Ram A T and Lloyd D Chong. Both horses are in fine fettle, but the edge is given to Frankenstorm with the claiming apprentice Bebeto Harvey who rode him to his double victories in November of last year. Claiming apprentice Dane Dawkins, who rode Di Cobre to his double victory in December and January, will again ride.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Rio Cobre (Omar Walker)

Race 2 Blessedness (Robert Halledeen)

Race 3 Queen Of The Town (Jevvanne Erwin)

Race 4 Air Marshall (Shamaree Muir)

Race 5 Legal Account (Omar Walker)

Race 6 Megatron (Shane Ellis)

Race 7 Kaci (Dane Nelson)

Race 8 Never Give Up (Paul Francis)

Race 9 Frankenstorm (Bebeto Harvey)

Race 10 Shine (Richard Mairs)