Raceday review — Saturday February 16, 2013

THE barriers are slowly coming down as the main aspirants for Classic race honours 2013 make their cases before examining eyes on the racetrack.

Last Saturday it was the turn of the fillies preparing for the 1000 Guineas and the Jamaica Oaks, races confined to the fairer sex in the game.

The Hotline Stakes, a non-winners of two event over six furlongs which is an important step up the Classic ladder, provided Olympic Prospect from the powerful stables of Gary Subratie with an expressive victory which has not only boosted her chances but has also firmly established Olympic Prospect among the favourites for the 1000 Guineas. In fact, it is fair to say that she is the favourite at this stage for the Guineas.

After watching from close quarters, while Leanne set off at a merry clip, Olympic Prospect, with the calm and assured Omar Walker in the saddle, simply breezed past after three furlongs to win in grand fashion from Selectabook with Lady Abhijita third. Rastaraven, one of those heavily touted for a good run, was totally out of sorts putting in a rather lacklustre performance.

It is now two wins from three starts for the Vanadium — Golden Olympio bay filly, and one suspects there is more to come with her next run expected to be in the usually hotly contested Thornbird Stakes over seven furlongs.

Olympic Prospect’s winning time over six furlongs, 1.15.2, was not impressive at all but the track was rather slow on the day, and nothing much should be read in the final time. She put away her rivals easily and that is what should be taken into consideration

The stock of three-year-old fillies is certainly not the best we have had at the Park. There is no definite leader among them. Let us remember the finish of the top-two year race of last year, the one mile Jamaica Two-Year-Old stakes — first Hovercraft, second Perfect Neighbour, third Doc Holiday and fourth Piscean Rocket, all colts or geldings.

So unless there is a really good filly still in one of the barns in the stable area yet to race, we are stuck with the lot we have already seen and which we have to deal with in 2013. Last year it was the late blooming Typewriter who came on the scene to conquer the Derby and the Ledger, so there is still hope for a late blooming filly to make her mark.

Dane Nelson moved to within one of leading rider Omar Walker with another triple. Classy Prospect and The Legacy were expected

but his performance on Bredda Papa in the 1820-metre

$450,000-$400,000 claiming event was exquisite. He went to front from the start and led the five-year-old bay horse to a terrific win. It was Dane at his front-running best.

Since the start of the year, we have noticed a palpable decline in the influence of the apprentices. The stock of Prince Holder known affectionately as ‘Daggerman’ has grown, while Davidan Robinson is slowly coming to come.

The leaders among the apprentices — Shamaree Muir and Renardo McNaughton — are finding the going tough although the latter guided King Solomon to victory on Saturday to register his first win of the season. The apprentices will undoubtedly rebound as the ‘big men’ in the saddle assert their dominance.

Slowly but surely champion trainer Wayne DaCosta is piling up the winners. He has saddled 16 winners in 2013 with 18 second positions to lead the championship by over $4 million from Gary Subratie and Anthony Nunes. On Saturday it was another double for the man known as ‘The Kid’ on Classy Prospect and The Legacy.

An interesting duel is emerging between Subraite and Nunes, so let us watch this development.