Three-year-old chestnut gelding Brinks, who has yet to taste victory this season from six starts, looms as a strong favourite to land the second staging of the $3.75- million Winston “Fanna” Griffiths Classic going nine and a half furlongs (1900m) at Caymanas Park today

The Ian Parsard-trained son of Bern Identity, Brinks is the most successful runner among those coming out of the Triple Crown races. He finished second behind Blue Vinyl in the Jamaica 2000 Guineas, third behind Blue Vinyl and Atomica in the Jamaica St Leger, and second behind Atomica in the Jamaica Derby.

This distance should be no issue for Brinks, and with no Atomica or Blue Vinyl around, he is provided with his best opportunity for adding another tick to his win column and earn his first win for the season.

Brinks has worked a smooth 1:14.4 for six furlongs (1,200m) on August 28 to suggest that he is still as fit as hands can make him. Jockey Reyan Lewis, who had piloted Our Angel in this year’s Jamaica Oaks Classic, remains in the saddle for the fifth consecutive time and will ride with joint top weight of 57.0kgs (126 lb).

Perfect Brew, trained by Hall of Famer Richard Azan; D Head Cornerstone, trained by back-to-back Jamaica Derby winning conditioner Gary Subratie; and Morimoto, trained by three-time defending champion Anthony “Baba” Nunes, all offer brave bids here.

The Winston “Fanna” Griffiths Classic for native-bred three-year-olds non-winners of a Grade 1 race, honours the great man himself — the iconic reinsman who has ridden the most winners overall (1,663) and also the most Classic winners at Caymanas Park.

The race is positioned as the eighth event on the 10-race card, with a post time of 4:15 pm.

First post is at high noon, which is a three-year-old and upward Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) that included native-bred five-year-old and upward (non-winners of four). The seven-furlong (1,400m) race will run in honour of Vireen, the first official winner for Griffiths.

Perfect Brew is just about realising his true potential as he comes into this race on the backend of two consecutive victories. His last win was on August 20 when he ran down his stablemate Power Ranking over seven-and-a-half furlongs (1500m). The Bern Identity – Moonlight offspring won in a time of 1:35.0. Perfect Brew should go well over this distance and will be in the hunt, especially with Shane Ellis riding for the first time at joint top weight of 57.okgs.

D Head Cornerstone won well on last by 4 ¾ lengths in the one-mile Caymanas Park 1959 Trophy on August 21, his second victory of his career from eight outings. Before that win, D Head Cornerstone made his credentials known with fourth-place finishes in both the Jamaica St Leger and Jamaica Derby Classic races.

In both those Classic races D Head Cornerstone finished well behind Brinks, who is present here and that doesn’t speak well for his chances, but going two turns, the bay colt is going to find a place on the board.

Morimoto also had an ordinary Classic season. Bred by Casual Trick out of the Burning Marque mare Luckybegood, Morimoto finished fourth in the 2000 Guineas and fifth in both the Jamaica St Leger and Jamaica Derby. Morimoto faces less competition, except for Brinks, and with the distance not an issue, a better performance is anticipated.

The rest of the field is made up of Pelicula, Great Trick, Sunset Silhoutte, and Unruly Dude.

Meanwhile, a field of nine sprinters is lined up for competition in the $1.1-million A King Is Born event, a three-year-old and upwards Overnight Allowance call on the round course at the minimum run of five furlongs.

Three-year-old bay gelding Emperorofthecats is expected to lead home rivals here as El Profesor, Capturemyship, and Generational should keep him honest all the way.

Bred, owned, and trained by Carl Anderson, Emperofthecats did well in his first race at this level on August 20 when finishing third behind Race Car and Eagle One over six furlongs. Emperorofthecats now faces weaker opposition and is highly favoured to return to winning ways. Of note, Emperorofthecats is the only three-year-old in this contest and he will have to come from off the pace as Capturemyship is the dominant speed.

El Profesor showed little in his last two starts. The Patrick Lynch trainee was far more competitive prior, when finishing second to Curlin’s Affair over this distance on July 23. El Profesor could run another pleasing race once again but is difficult to follow because of his inconsistency.

Capturemyship always does well over the straight but can produce good efforts on the round course. In this quick dash, Capturemyship is going to play catch me if you can, given his known speed. Note that the Gregory Forsyth trainee’s last four races have been over the straight course.

Generational, trained by Rowan Mathie, is a very consistent runner at this level. Generational is a seasoned campaigner who can mix it up with the best at this level. The chestnut gelding has the ability to stay off the pace but will be close enough for a final push in the straight.

Ones to watch:

Race 1) Zabratone/D’s Choice/Anngelos

Race 2) Three Card Guy/Audibility/Little Buzz

Race 3) Always Vigorous/Jungle Cat/Magic Bullet

Race 4) Blu Attitude/Acapella/Contractor

Race 5) Thegoodlife/Sure Curlin/Joyful

Race 6) Lord Burkington/Traditional Lady/Bestdaughterinlaw

Race 7) Lacrimae/Wowtastic/Babylike

Race 8) Brinks/Morimoto/Perfect Brew

Race 9) Emperorthecats/Generational/El Profesor

Race 10) Rusty/Sensational Ending/Heavenly Glitter