Rum Talk stalks 'Bob' Mayall Memorial Trophy

Saturday, November 07, 2009 1:56 PM

Sport

BY HURBUN WILLIAMS, Observer writer

Saturday, July 04, 2009

The annual running of the Grade 1 $990,000 L R 'Bob' Mayall Memorial Trophy over 1,600 metres on the 11-race programme at Caymanas Park today, has only attracted four starters.

Rum Talk, with jockey Winston Griffiths in the saddle, following a recent gallop at Caymanas Park . Griffiths will pilot Rum Talk today in L R 'Bob' Mayall Memorial Trophy race, also at Caymanas Park. (Photo: Hurbun Williams)

However, what the event may lack in quantity it surely will make up in quality as it will feature last year's narrow loser Chadman as well as the in form Rum Talk who will be seeking a hat-trick of wins. First post is 12:20 pm.

Rum Talk, the 2007 Guineas and St Leger winner, enters the day's feature race on the heels of a commanding victory by 10 1⁄4 lengths in the Legal Light Trophy on April 18 while making his seasonal debut.

While this victory was against inferior opposition compared to the one he will face today in the American-bred Chadman, Medical Report and Prime Minister, he closed off his 2008 season against top opposition with a captivating run in the Harry Jackson Memorial to defeat Superstakes winner Ad Infinitum by half-a-length.

Since then, the Stephen Chung, WP Valentine Chung and Clovis Metcalfe's son of Royal Minster out of Good As Gold (Fountain Of Gold) has shown marked improvement at exercise.

Rum Talk has risen a tad in the handicaps to allow weight to his rivals, but jockey Winston Griffiths again gets the call from trainer Philip Feanny and it will take an outstanding performance by one of his rivals to deny him victory over a distance he thoroughly enjoys with his last victory coming just under a year ago.

Bitter Sweet's imported seven-year-old bay gelding Chadman will receive plenty of support with champion jockey Omar Walker replacing Devon A Thomas in the saddle. Chadman, who runs well for Walker, has shown on last that he is steadily getting his act together once again after two earlier below par efforts.

Trained by leading and champion conditioner Wayne DaCosta, the son of Concerto out of Glitzy (Quiet American), despite his poor running form this season from three starts, has been well-trained for his second trophy race of the season, and having gone down appreciably in the weights from 60.5kg to 56.5kg, must be a clear and present danger to the favourite.

Cleveland A Mitchell's eight-year-old bay gelding Medical Report deserves respect although he has confined most of his running to short sprints. Jockey Paul Francis who knows the son of The Medic out of Princess Ellen (Let's Get Physical) well, will again ride for shrewd trainer Noel Ennevor who could use the 53.0kg allotted to Medical Report and test the mettle of the top two.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Sticksontheloose (Omar Walker)
Race 2 Change The Rule (Omar Walker)
Race 3 Commander Zero (Omar Walker)
Race 4 My Thunder (Lenroy Collins)
Race 5 Peace By Peace (Oral Bennett)
Race 6 Fox Man (Lenroy Collins)
Race 7 Morning Cruise (Omar Walker)
Race 8 Brawta (Paul Francis)
Race 9 Sergeant Stonehan (Omar Walker)
Race 10 Rum Talk (Winston Griffiths)
Race 11 Brotherly Love (Omar Walker)

If you were to grade Derick Latibeaudiere's performance over his 13 years as Bank of Jamaica governor, what grade would he get?
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