Laban, who has been banging on the door for some time, might finally see the light when he competes in the $1.25-million Security Department Trophy feature at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

The Richard Azan trainee has not won in his past 11 outings, but dropping to the Overnight Allowance level here might see Laban finally triumph.

Laban has been racing against better horses than these in the preceding classes and has been campaigning well with a couple of telling runs. He last ran on December 16 in a seven-furlong (1,400m) event, finishing third behind Perfect Brew and Freedom Street by 6 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:25.2. If Laban can repeat that performance, the seven-year-old bay horse may find himself unsaddled in the winners’ enclosure. Tevin Foster, the top rider, has been asked to perform the honours aboard the Sensational Slam – For Trixie offspring.

The Security Department, a non-restricted Overnight Allowance race for three-year-olds and above over five furlongs (1,000m) straight, is positioned as the ninth and final event on the day with a post time of 4:55 pm. First race is at noon.

Duke, God of Love, and Yellowstone appear to be the only dangers to Laban here.

Duke has been disappointing in recent time. He raced 15 times last year and only won once, coming second four times and third four times. Duke should be at ease among these and should run another good race here; the only downside is that he will start from the number one stall. Robert Halledeen will ride for trainer Gary Subratie.

God of Love is quite a capable runner but he appears to have lost his mojo recently. God of Love’s past three races were below average, but he is much better an animal than those races suggested. God of Love’s most recent notable performance occurred on September 9, when he finished third in the None Such Sprint over six furlongs (1,200m) behind She’s My Destiny and Runaway Algo. God of Love will be unsaddled in the winners’ enclosure if that effort is replicated. Christopher Mamdeen rides for trainer Rowan Mathie. Note: Tongue-tie off.

Yellowstone, trained by Alford Brown, returns to competitive racing after a 158-day break. Yellowstone last competed on August 1, 2023 where he finished in third positioned behind Perfect Brew and God of Love over five-and-a-half furlongs (1,100m). He also goes well over the straight and with preparation going smoothly; Yellowstone is going to make a brave bid here. Oshane Nugent will ride.

Ones to watch:

Race 1) Tigray Express/Premier Identity/Jupiter Man

Race 2) Fly Messenger Fly/She’s My Friend/Heart Of The Sea

Race 3) Brown Skin Girl/Life is Life/Cookie Day N Night

Race 4) Oil Machine/Allegiance/Blu Sensation

Race 5) Cold Pursuit/Chitu Prince/Absolute Blue

Race 6) Show Girl/Storm/GT Boy

Race 7) Legit Boss/Milos/Volatility

Race 8) Just Move In/Wildfire/Cotterwood Kathy

Race 9) Laban/God of Love/Yellowstone