The running of the annual Sports Journalist of Jamaica Trophy is the major showpiece of a truncated eight-race midweek programme at Caymanas Park today.

Ensconced as a regular feature of horse racing each year, the Sports Journalist of Jamaica Trophy caper will be run among the $350,000 down to $300,000 claiming spread going 1,200 metres for a purse of $560,000. Seven will run.

Though this is a small field, the race, which opens the card at 1:30 pm, could prove to be a highly competitive affair that sets the tone for an entertaining midweek racing call.

The winner is expected to emerge from either Shade Of Beauty, El Numero Uno, Junior Don, Bad Boy Justin or Zackontheattack. Shade Of Beauty, owned and trained by Clifford Atkinson Jnr, is yet to open her account for the season, but is hard knocking with some useful performances in her last three runs that could prime her for this race.

With the in-form journeyman rider Oneil Mullings called to the saddle her luck can change forthwith while running over a distance that the six-year-old dark bay mare is comfortable with.

El Numero Uno seems to have settled down to his racing of late, and with the distance no problem and coming in with a feather of 50.0kg for the claiming apprentice Oneil Beckford, another searching performance is not beyond the Christopher Pierre-trained eight-year-old chestnut gelding that is owned by Bugs.

Junior Don, though not showing any zest to be a real threat is, however, going this short and cannot be ignored as he could just be waiting for the right moment to come good, now that jockey Jevvanne Erwin is recalled to the saddle.

Bad Boy Justin, despite the top weight of 56.0kg, is no mug at 1,200 metres. Even with Erwin hopping over to Junior Don, Bad Boy Justin could take advantage of the apprentice’s claim to deliver the goods for trainer Ryan Derby and owner Nadon.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned first-choice runners, Tashie Baby and the well drilled Zackontheattack could close rapidly for their fair share of the action.

Tashie Baby is returning from a 39-day respite in fairly good racing trim and if the three-year-old chestnut filly were to be given the ok, then she could return to winning ways for her breeder, owner and trainer Gary Griffiths over a distance that she has already won.

The claiming apprentice Hakeem Pottinger has already won twice aboard the filly from her last six starts and has returned to take over the reins from claiming apprentice Jerome Innis who held them on last when the filly put in a clinker.

Zackontheattack is yet to get off the mark in his five-yearold season for trainer Ryan Derby.

He has however shown positive signs that he is approaching racing fitness and with a trophy at stake could turn the sketchy form around and land the gambit with the claiming apprentice Odean Edwards replacing jockey Aaron Chatrie in the tack.

In the top-rated Overnight Allowance, it should be an easy win for the Anthony Nunes-trained Royal Assault to be ridden by top apprentice Linton Steadman.

Ones To Watch

Race 1

Zackontheattack (Odean Edwards)

Race 2

Lucky Nine (Odeen Edwards)

Race 3

Royal Assault (Linton Steadman)

Race 4

Idon’tknow (Ruja Lahoe)

Race 5

Mr Ambassador (Omar Walker)

Race 6

Medical Instinct (Javaniel Patterson)

Race 7

Princess Emmanuel (Dane Dawkins)

Race 8

Fabulousconnection (Aaron Chatrie)