THE hunt to establish a new record of most wins in local thoroughbred racing is on at Caymanas Park today.

Poised to eclipse the 17-year-old War Zone record is super mare and Horse-Of-The-Year Saint Cecelia, which competes in the $1,188,000 Lady Geeta Trophy feature of a nine-race card.

The Lady Geeta, a Graded Stakes call for three-year-olds and upward, has attracted a field of seven starters going 1,200 metres that is set to go to post at approximately 4:50 pm, with first post at 1:00 pm.

Trained by Spencer Chung, Saint Cecelia’s great odyssey began with a victory in the Reggae Trophy going 1,000-metre straight. This was on July 9, 2011 when ridden by the then apprentice Osive Donegal, beating Dance So Sweet and Sir Von.

Wesley Henry continued the process on August 20, but from then, it was Shane Ellis who held the reigns steadfast to mastermind the effort for intent and will again be at the helm to take the two-time Horse-Of-The-Year winner and sprint champion over the final record-breaking hurdle.

Unbeaten since the Reggae Trophy victory of 2011, the seven-year-old muscular-looking chestnut mare by Burning Marque out of She’s On Wheels (Bates Motel), bred Ham Stables and owned by Robert F Chung & WP Valentine Chung, eventually equalled War Zone’s record on February 23, trainer Chung’s mother’s birthday.

She did this with a big run in the Eileen Cliggott Trophy going 1,300 metres. The time was a smart 1:18.1 and she won by 3 1/2 lengths, but not before stopping the far-striding American-bred colt Mismyrtleboyrichie (now retired to stud duties) in his tracks, three races before reaching the milestone, after the American colt had progressed to 10 wins before tasting defeat.

That win, Saint Cecelia’s 10th, pushed her in the driver’s seat that made her the sole leader to become the record holder. But trainer Chung, while optimistic with the prospect of going all the way, is cautious. “It is a good position to be in but we would have to take each race at a time and see how it turns out,” he said.

It has turned out well for Saint Cecelia since taking over the lead as the high-profile mare has been running up to record-breaking standard with intentions of going all the way. Today will not be any different, and although facing a formidable opposition, Saint Cecelia looks set to become the new holder of the most-win record at Caymanas Park today.

Her most enduring opposition seems to reside in El Poderoso, the mount of claiming apprentice Kuri Powell; Palace Gold to be ridden by Paul ‘Country’ Francis and stablemates The Guv ridden by Dick Cardenas and Go Go Yvonne partnered by Kerry-Gayl Robinson.

Also on the programme is an Overnight Allowance dash featuring the undefeated American-bred filly Hupomone going 1,000 metres along with the Track Price Plus “Dig-Out Handicap” Race #43.

When Hupomone, prepared for her races by Wayne DaCosta and ridden by Dane Nelson, last faced the starter on March 2, she bolted and was subsequently disqualified from taking part. Owned by Elizabeth DaCosta & Laurence Heffes & Eric V Martin she returns to the races refreshed and well prepared. She has already won over the round course on previous occasions and could continue the process among these.

Despite this the down in grade Gary Subratie-trained Awesome Camille to be ridden by Omar Walker looks well prepared to test Hupomone. Others who could heighten the challenge over the 1,000-metre dash are Dior, trained by Norman Smith and ridden by claiming apprentice Shameree Muir, and Lashing Force, ridden by the claiming apprentice Prince Holder for trainer Raymond Townsend.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Sirmandi (Dane Nelson)

Race 2 Tropicaldepression (Shane Ellis)

Race 3 Hupomone (Dane Nelson)

Race 4 Gold Runner (Andre Martin)

Race 5 D’Angel (Shane Ellis)

Race 6 Pappa D (Dane Nelson)

Race 7 Hermoso Amigo (Shameree Muir)

Race 8 Saint Cecelia (Shane Ellis)

Race 9 Mr Luval (Dick Cardenas)