JAMAICA Racehorse Trainers’ Association Trophy feature for a purse of $715,000 will highlight today’s Trainers’ Day 11-race programme at Caymanas Park.

Four practising trainers, Harry Jaghai, Kingsley Rose, Michael Beecham and Philip Elliott will be honoured.

The JRTA Trophy is race 10 on the card that is set to go off at approximately 4:35 pm with first post at 11:45 am.

One of three races with full fields, the 2012 JRTA Trophy renewal has attracted a strong collection of top contenders: Nuh Vex, The Legacy, Royal Bud, Vibes Master and Truly Explosive are numbered among the leading entrants in the field of 16 Restricted Allowance II, native-bred three-year-olds (NW2), going 1,200 metres.

Nuh Vex, a three-year-old bay colt by War Marshall out of Princess Chioneso (Law Of The Sea) and bred by Teddy Levy, was a narrow loser over 1,000 metres straight on last and his downfall could have been the inexperience of his apprentice rider. The colt has been knocking loudly since September and two races earlier, was also a narrow loser when claiming apprentice ridden.

Owned by Silvena V Morris and trained by Leroy Biggs, the connections have dispensed with the services of apprentice riders and have now called upon jockey Shane Ellis to fill the breach with more competent handling. The move looks certain to increase the winning chances of the colt 10-fold, as there is little doubt concerning his fitness and readiness to leave non-winners of two behind.

Royal Bud, a talented three-year-old gelding by Royal Minister out of Rose Bud (Sir Lal Bahadur) bred by Gladstone Bell & Terrance Strachan, seems to be taking his own time getting back into competitive racing shape.

Trained by Raymond Townsend for owners Winner’s Syndicate, Royal Bud, looking at two of his performances from his last three starts, has finished close enough to the winners of the races to warrant serious consideration, seeing that in-between times he has been kept on the move at exercise with encouraging gallops.

And with one lightweight claiming apprentice Prince ‘Dagga Master’ Holder replacing Marc Griffiths, Royal Bud, who is fully effective over the distance, will be charting the course from early. And should his gallop be well measured by his lively apprentice, the effort could prove illusive, which could see him striding to victory.

The Legacy, the mount of champion jockey Dick Cardenas, could turn out to be the fly in the ointment.

A chestnut gelding by Alisios out of Studu-Lanu (Studdish) bred by Robert & Althea Gore & Noel Levy and owned by Althea Gore & Bruce & Noel Levy, The Legacy has been confined mostly to distances beyond 1,200 metres for the majority of his 16 starts for the season.

Running consistently well without much winning success over longer trip, 12-time champion trainer in waiting Wayne DaCosta has decided to test the versatility of the gelding over a shorter distance and this could prove just what the ‘doctor’ ordered to get him his second win of his three-year career.

The Legacy is bred to get the shorter trip, but with his laid-back style of running and a fair amount of speed present, Cardenas will have to have him on the move from early. He could then be on the lookout for the early pace to come back to the field in the drive before making capital of his good early positioning to pounce.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Jaylen (Omar Walker)

Race 2 Dancinwiththecats (Dane Nelson)

Race 3 Andy Capp (Trevor Simpson)

Race 4 Willie Goldsmith (Omar Walker)

Race 5 Harlan’s Dancer (Paul Francis)

Race 6 Free Fall (Robert Halledeen)

Race 7 Bankroll (Omar Walker)

Race 8 Tracking Eskimo (Orlando Foster)

Race 9 Dream Point (Richard Mitchell)

Race 10 Nuh Vex (Shane Ellis)

Race 11 Marshall Jim (Richard Mairs)