Cassanova Boy to continue winning streak in Eros Trophy
The Wayne DaCosta-conditioned undefeated American-bred four-year-old grey gelding Cassanova Boy will have his credentials fully tested when he faces last year’s Derby winner He’s Really Ok in the 12th running of the $1,188,000 Eros Trophy Grade One feature at Caymanas Park today.
The 10-race card is the first-leg of the two-day Easter Holiday Racing carnival and is well supported with a number of other competitive races to set the stage for one of the most appealing and intriguing Guineas Racedays in years. First post is 1:15 pm.
Owned by E DaCosta, G Dulal-Whiteway, W Kong & Raymond Rousseau, Cassanova Boy is one of the most impressive horses in training at Caymanas Park, as since making his local debut as a three-year-old in September of last year, he has gone unbeaten with six wins over various distances with the same results winning with much in hand.
After cruising to victory in his last race over 1,800 metres with deft certainty, it left his connections dreaming of bigger things and after today’s encounter could provide his champion trainer with the answers to his next move.
Today will mark the gelding’s toughest assignment up to this point, as he competes over 1,400 metres in a field of six among whom are the speedy Ministerofjustice, the 1,000 metres straight joint record holder and two other capable American-bred stablemates, New Kingston, who like He’s Really Ok and Ministerofjustice, are recent winners and the less effective Satan’s Rule. Beautiful Space, the stable companion of He’s Really Ok, will complete the small field.
If one has to judge from the manner in which Cassanova Boy won his previous races, he could become complacent about the outcome of the event. However, it must be noted that this is the strongest opposition he will face in his short career here and with matching speed in Ministerofjustice with only a feature of 51.5kg to carry with Dick Cardenas in the irons, could prove a far more testing time for Cassanova Boy, who on this occasion will be saddled with 59.5kg.
Cassanova Boy has continued to impressive at exercise, galloping 1,100 metres in 1:06.2 by one minute flat for 1,000 metres last Monday to show that he is again primed to demonstrate that he is heading for the top class. Stable jockey Omar Walker, who has already won three times with him, will again ride.
Despite the steady preparation of He’s Really Ok with Paul Francis in the saddle, the Patrick Smellie four-year-old roan gelding may not look to be as effective going this short, but in the face of good pace in the race, could close strongly for a piece of the action if they try to go too fast too early.
Should He’s Really Ok choose to use this as a useful exercise gallop then the race could be decided between Cassanova Boy, New Kingston with Wesley Henry up and a mere 48.0kg and Ministerofjustice.
Ones To Watch
Race 1 Raise A Ruckus (Winston Griffiths)
Race 2 Royal Lad (Paul Francis)
Race 3 Jungle Queen (Wesley Henry)
Race 4 Top Man (Shane Ellis)
Race 5 Singingintherain (Dane Nelson)
Race 6 First Lady (Doushane Gordon)
Race 7 Minister Of Information (Trevor Simpson)
Race 8 Regional Charmer (Kirk Johnson)
Race 9 Cassanova Boy (Omar Walker)
Race 10 Man Of The Sea (Ramon Parish)