ANTE-POST favourite Blast Them Away will face five opponents as he sets his sight on returning to his winning ways in the 15th running of the $1,188,000 Eros Trophy at Caymanas Park today.

The Eros Trophy highlights an extended 12-race card and is set to go to post at approximately 5:25 pm with first post at 12:10 pm.

Trained by Wayne DaCosta for Robert K Thomas, the American-bred colt missed a hat-trick of wins in his last run after being beaten by Saint Cecelia, the repeat Horse Of The year, by a half-of-a-length when going 1100 metres in the Lotto Sprint on May 25.

Since his narrow lost to Saint Cecelia after appearing in Grade One company for the first time, the four-year-old bay colt looked inspired after the defeat setting the track alight while galloping 1100 metres in a sprightly 1:05.2 by 58.4 in his penultimate workout on Sunday morning.

Returning to the races in such high spirit, Blast Them Away should find the opposition in the Eros Trophy (Graded Stakes three year olds and upward), and the extended trip of 1400 metres more amenable for a successful winning run.

Now saddled with top weight of 57.0kg Dane Nelson his favourite rider has returned to the saddle in place of Dick Cardenas who was aboard on last when the American colt carried only a feather of 50.0kg.

Blast Them Away will be running against opposition he has already beaten but the Spencer Chung-conditioned Typewriter and the Philip Feanny-trained El Poderoso have been prepared well enough to follow the classy colt back to the line.

Meanwhile, two exercise riders’ races are carded and budding female rider Natalie Berger will partner Pocket Ace for trainer Nicholas Edwards in the first of the two races. Berger has been on the circuit for some time now exercising horses in the morning and riding in exercise races. She is expected to be among the next batch of apprentices who will attend the Jockeys’ Training School conducted by the Jamaica Racing Commission.

Ones To Watch

*Race 1 Splitting Image (Doushane Gordon)

*Race 2 Man Alive (Dane Nelson)

*Race 3 Luminous Trieste (Andre Martin)

*Race 4 Reds Thomas (Oniel Beckford

*Race 5 Edison (Dane Nelson)

*Race 6 Jaylen (Omar Walker)

*Race 7 City Hall (Oniel Beckford)

*Race 8 Get Them Girl (Shamaree Muir)

*Race 9 Italiano (Dane Nelson)

*Race 10 Bankroll (Clive Lynch)

*Race 11 Blast Them Away (Dane Nelson)

*Race 12 Smarty Kaihu (Dane Nelson)