DESPITE the Aston Commock Memorial Trophy being at the feature race, the anticipated clash between foreigners Chocomo and Wall Street Trader in the $1.19-million Restricted Stakes contest is predicted to draw the most attention on today’s nine-race schedule.

The race is for imported three-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three) and native-bred three-year-olds and four-year-olds (non-winners of four) over seven and a half furlongs (1,500m).

Chocomo, a three-year-old American-bred colt, made a successful debut on local soil on March 23 over six furlongs (1,200m). Owned by Carlton Watson and trained by Jason DaCosta, Chocomo won the race by two lengths in a time of 1:15.4 for the distance.

The Backtalk-Chocolate offspring has been training well for his second run, having gone 1:09.0 for five and a half furlongs (1,100 m), with five furlongs (1,000m) coming in at 1:03.1 alongside stablemate Fearless Attack on Sunday. Chocomo could make it two wins in a row here. Panamanian Josue Osorio will ride Chocomo.

Although he has yet to get off the mark on local soil the five-year-old, American-bred, dark bay/brown gelding Wall Street Trader possesses enough class and talent to win here. He had finished in second place in his two runs so far.

Wall Street Trader was beaten by a length by Rhythm Buzz over six furlongs on March 16, and came back and finished two lengths behind Funcaandun at seven furlongs on March 30. Wall Street Trader, who is also highly thought of at home, should enjoy the pace of this race and could go one better.

Wall Street Trader galloped four furlongs (800m) in 49.2 last Saturday, his latest workout coming into the race. Robert Halledeen will be aboard
Wall Street Trader for owner Vincent Maine and trainer Rowan Mathie.

The event is positioned as the eighth race on the card, with a post time of 4:45 p.m. The first race is at noon.

The race is, however, not limited to these two runners as the likes of Grecian Light, Princess Amahle, and Box Box should play prominent roles in the outcome of this race.

Grecian Light ran a brave race to finish fourth behind Funcaandun and Wall Street Trader over seven furlongs on March 30. The bay filly was seen making late headway in a deep stretch to finish just four lengths behind the winner in a time of 1:27. Now going half-furlong (100m) long, a similar effort could see
Grecian Light go home with a share of the spoils.

Princess Amahle came off a three-month layoff and finished second by two lengths behind Rejected Raja over five furlongs straight on April 6. The Dalton Sirjue trainee also goes well riding the bend so Princess Amahle is expected to run well here.

Box Box won going seven furlongs and two starts aback in a quick 1:26.2 on the bridle, however he returned and flopped over the straight at five furlongs on April 6 as he finished in seventh place among eight runners. The four-year-old chestnut filly worked a smooth 37.2 for three furlongs (600m) on Sunday coming into this race and is expected to make a brave bid here.

The Aston Commock Memorial Trophy is a Restricted Allowance IV contest for native-bred four-year-olds (non-winners of three) and imported four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two) over one mile (1,600m).

Four-year-old American-bred chestnut filly Uncaptured Empress, who finished second to Power From Above, is tipped to go one better here.
Superio, Antarctica, and Mr. Senator should provide some competition for the favourite.

Ones to watch:

Race 1)
Supermasi/Provident/Affair

Race 2)
My Smokey/Storm Valley/Tequila Blue

Race 3)
Anonymous/Six Avenue/High Diplomacy

Race 4)
She’s Prado/Another Wave/In The Spirit

Race 5)
Emperorofthecats/El Afortnunado/Power Ranking

Race 6)
Golden Syrup/Shoamithebutcher/Da Hamiltonian

Race 7)
He Stands Alone/Clowning Around/Cruzinn Again

Race 8)
Chocomo/Wall Street Trader/Princess Amahle

Race 9)
Uncaptured Empress/Antarctica/Superio