Typewriter and Commanding Chief come face-to-face for the first time in the 51st running of the $1,320,000 Prime Minister’s Stakes going 2,000 metres at Caymanas Park today.

The event has attracted a small but dynamic and competitive field of six that also includes the seasoned and in form Open Allowance campaigners, Classy Prospect and the American-bred Reasonable Press.

The Graded Stakes stamina-draining call for three-year-olds and upward is the principal feature on the two-trophy 11-race Independence Day card that has a post time set at approximately 5:00 pm, with first post at noon.

The other trophy race on the card is the Independence Day Stakes, a race for $180,000 claimers going 1,600 metres in the Track Price Plus ‘Dig Out’ Handicap Series – Race #62 that brings the local programme to a close at approximately 5:30 pm.

Typewriter, last year’s Derby and St Leger winner, who has scored good wins at the Open Allowance levels and finished a good third behind the American thunderbolt Blast Them Away while sprinting on last, has done enough to start as the morning line favourite ahead of Commanding Chief, who won the St Leger two year’s ago but has failed to beat Reasonable Press twice from his three starts for the season.

Nonetheless, Commanding Chief will enter the fray much better handicapped than when he went down by a neck to Mark My Word in the Governor General Stakes last October.

Trained by Everal Francis for owners Docs Stable, Commanding Chief has been well prepared and will be apprentice ridden for the first time and could utilise this 3.0kg advantage to come in at 52.0kg for Ruja Lahoe.

Despite coming in this light, Commanding Chief will have his work cut out outclassing this field. This is a race that will call for tactical manoeuvres, as Typewriter, who will be saddled with top weight of 57.0kg and Shane Ellis will be no pushover. He looks genuine to the core and carries his weight well.

Trained by Spencer Chung for owners Robert F Chung and WP Valentine Chung, Typewriter is by Western Classic out of Doc’s Paladin (Boundary) bred at Ham Stables Ltd and is endowed with both good pace and speed in his loins.

Apart from Commanding Chief the boldest opposition is expected from Classy Prospect and Reasonable Press. Similar in their style of running, Classy Prospect, trained by Wayne DaCosta and ridden by Dane Nelson for owner/breeders Francis Barnett, Edison Chai and Louis Lyn, got the better of Reasonable Press when going 1,400 metres on last. However, now going 600 metres farther and trainer Philip Feanny calling up maestro jockey Winston Griffiths to replace the claiming apprentice Orlando Foster gives the five-year-old chestnut horse a bit more latitude in which to lift his performance.

The manifestation of such an expectation could further enhance the outcome of the event as both Classy Prospect and Reasonable Press are even more effective over the extended trip.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Minnie Sunshine (Paul Francis)

Race 2 Art of War (Orlando Foster)

Race 3 Kal Kal (Orlando Foster)

Race 4 Flying Marshall (Ruja Lahoe)

Race 5 Top Ranking (Michael Grant)

Race 6 Miss May (Dick Cardenas)

Race 7 Fantabulous (Dane Nelson)

Race 8 Anarkali (Dick Cardenas)

Race 9 Live Water (Omar Walker)

Race 10 Typewriter (Shane Ellis)

Race 11 Golden Opportunity (Ruja Lahoe)