NAUTICAL Star — a six-year-old, American-bred, dark bay/brown horse — is looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance in last year’s Mouttet Mile. The Anthony Nunes-trained horse finished ninth, 15¼ lengths behind winner Runallday, in the US$300,000 one-mile event.

Now, Nautical Star is stepping down two classes to compete in the $1.25-million St Catherine Cup at Caymanas Park today, where he’ll face 12 rivals in the Overnight Allowance contest over six furlongs (1,200m).

Nunes has adjusted Nautical Star’s training tactics, replacing pre-Mouttet Mile bullet gallops with easier workouts including an easy 48.3 on Saturday, January 3 over four furlongs (800m), followed by 1:03.1 for five furlongs (1,000m) last Saturday morning. This change aims to bring out Nautical Star’s best performance. He is bred by Dixie Chattter out of the Evansville Slew mare Miss Chocolate.

Nautical Star has shown promise in the past, winning six-furlong events in 1:10.3 and 1:11.0 at Oaklawn Park, plus a seven-furlong outing in 1:23.0 at Gulfstream Park in 2023. With strong training leading up to the event, expectations are high for the foreign horse to make a statement.

The contest is positioned as the eighth and final event on the day with a post time of 5:20 pm. First post is at 12:30 pm.

The battle for second place in the St Catherine Cup is expected to be an intense one, with several strong contenders vying for the exacta spot. Champion Bubbler, Wall Street Trader, Oil Machine, and Mark My Identity are all capable runners that could give Nautical Star a run for his money.

Champion Bubbler has been consistent and also a strong finisher. Wall Street Trader is considered the likely leader and has shown lethal form off the bench. Oil Machine is another strong contender, having run a brave race to finish a close fourth to Provident on January 1. Mark My Identity, with his strong finish, could also earn a place on the board.

Champion Bubbler finished second by 4¾ lengths behind Zulu Warrior over the five-straight course on January 3. Champion Bubbler also goes well around the bend and should do well here among these, but his best hope is for a second-place finish.

Wall Street Trader was fifth by 6½ lengths behind Girvano and Of a Revolution in the Miracle Cup over seven furlongs on January 1. Wall Street Trader is better suited to this distance, and given his speed he should give the favouirte most to do here.

Oil Machine stepping down in distance from nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) to six furlongs should not be an issue. He should go home earning here.

Mark My Identity won four races last season — and all those wins he had came off the pace. Mark My Identity’s final rattle in deep stretch should earn him a place on the board in this one.

Ones to watch:

Race 1)
Always Wright/Lion of Ekati/Password

Race 2)
Giving Thanks/Another Wow/Another Quality

Race 3)
Battle Angel/Blood Moon/Brompton Alex

Race 4)
Bangarang/Roman Lady/Nebuchadnezzar

Race 5)
Last Possession/Life is Light/Shan Shan

Race 6)
Papa Gray/Successful Man/Happy Force

Race 7)
Miss Grove/Margarita/Global Pursuit

Race 8)
Nautical Star/Mark My Identity/Wall Street Trader