The Saint Cecelia Cup will headline a three-trophy, 10-race card at Caymanas Park today that also includes the Kenneth Mattis OD Memorial Trophy and the Nasatol Trophy races.

It is another programme of speed, but while the Saint Cecelia Cup will be run among Open Allowance horses, three-year-olds and upward, going 1,300 metres for a purse of $845,000, the Kenneth Mattis O D Memorial Trophy will lower the tempo among Overnight Allowance runners, three-year-olds and upward going 2,000 metres for a purse of $780,000.

The Saint Cecelia has attracted 10 runners, while seven runners are down to contest the Kenneth Mattis.

This year’s 1,000 Guineas heroine Nuclear Affair, fresh from a recent three-length win over a similar distance, will lead the cavalry on a merry chase of speed and is scheduled to answer the call at approximately 4:30 pm in the penultimate event on the day. The first post is at 12:10 pm.

Nuclear Affair, trained by Gary Subratie for Michros, has already beaten a number of runners present. However, by the inclusion of a number of senior and inform campaigners at this level, her task is expected to be a tad more competitive by the presence of Campesino, Phineas, Traditional Prince, teammate Brawn, fellow American-bred Force DeJour (who finished closest toNuclear Affair on last) and Hover Craft from the barn of many-time champion Wayne DaCosta.

Among the opponents who should rival Nuclear Affair most for parity is the down-in-grade Campesino. The Philip Feanny-prepared bay gelding just ran a blinder behind stablemate Buzz Nightmare in Grade One company a week ago, and with the distance again ideal, should Campesino return to the races at the lower level in a similar shape, then Nuclear Affair will be truly tested.

When Campesino lost to Nuclear Affair he carried 55.0kg.

The consistent gelded son of Compadre then went up in grade at 51.0kg and finished second. Down in grade for this, a mere 2.0kg heavier and even at the scales withNuclear Affair, he should now pack enough ammunition to provide a much better fight to his earlier conqueror.

Robert Halledeen is the only jockey to win aboard

Nuclear Affair since Dane Nelson departed for greener pastures, and he will remain in the irons, while top claiming apprentice rider Linton Steadman, who rode Campesino on last, will remain in the tack.

Phineas is another who can add to the competitiveness of the race as he is quite fit at present, and with the distance ideal, should be around when this is being decided as he seems to be holding his form very well.

After accounting for Campesino and Long Running Train at the tail end of last year, the seven-year-old dark bay brown gelding opened the new racing season with a 2 ½-length loss to Poker Star over today’s distance. Next, he finished third to Brawn in 1,000 metres round dash but returned in an easier spot a month later to open his winning account. His exercise gallops suggest that he is fit and cannot be overlooked.

Brawn will just love the expected tempo of this race, and should the speed horses go too fast too early he will be closing fast and furious to stake his claim.

But do not forget that Nuclear Affair can produce top end speed in the latter part of the race to get the job done should the early pace setters as Mom’s Student, Traditional Prince and even Force DeJour burn themselves out in trying to outdo Nuclear Affair with the surprise early runs.

The Kenneth Mattis has only attracted a modest field of seven, but good quality performances are expected from the three runners from the barn of Ian Parsard – Superluminal, Kiri and Original Train.

Superluminal seems his best prospect for victory although Original Train and Kiri will enjoy the two-turn event with Kiri, the filly, in particular, due for a win.

The prospect of Superluminal continuing his winning ways is further enhanced by jockey Paul Francis remaining in the saddle. The four-year-old bay colt has three wins from 13 career starts, and Francis was aboard on all three occasions.

Miracle Star, trained by Donovan Plummer, has been spoiling for a trip such as this and while not expected to win, will enjoy the run.Timeforams though not looking up in his races of late, could surprise with a decent run as the distance is much to his liking, having won his last race over same some eight months ago.

Stretched out, Golden Bullet could justify his usefulness in racing now being conditioned by Clifford Atkinson Jnr who should have learnt a thing or two from Clifford Snr how to prepare runners for the long- distance races.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Dinner By Seven, Santana, Titanic

Race 2 Sweet Dimension, Dash Board, Stir It Up

Race 3 Junior Don, Unbreakable, Zackontheattack

Race 4 Patch, Seeking The Dawn, He’s A Machine

Race 5 Superluminal, Timeforarms, Original Train

Race 6 Marvellous Marva, Diligent, Storming Flyer

Race 7 Dreamliner, Princess Emanuelle, Dancing Queen

Race 8 Fastandflashy, Burning Medic, He’sthereal links

Race 9 Nuclear Affair, Campesino, Phineas, Brawn

Race 10 Rani, Auntie Rhonda, Crown Princess