Owners and trainers have injected new life into the tail end of the 2013 racing season that would most certainly add great interest for punters with leading riders champion Dane Nelson and four-time champion Omar Walker sitting almost neck-and-neck in the Jockeys Championship race at Caymanas Park.

The interesting situation was created on last Sunday’s nine-race card when Nelson, trailing Walker by all of five winners, rode as any inspired practitioner of his craft would and brought the situation to a boil by booting home six winners of his eight rides, which moved him ahead in the championship race by one after trailing Walker by five rides at the beginning of the programme.

This situation has infused new impetus among betting fans of local racing that could inspire new interests at the betting windows on today’s 10-race card that will feature two trophy races — the War Zone Sprint going 1,100 metres for Restricted Graded Stakes native-bred three-year-olds and the Gladiator Trophy for Open Allowance (three-year-olds upward) going 1,400 metres.

Both events, where Nelson and Walker have secured competitive rides, will be evenly contested with Nelson holding a slight edge over Walker in winning the events.

Nelson and Walker have secured nine rides apiece on the programme.

The War Zone is Race Seven with a 3:05 pm post time with the Gladiator Trophy to follow at a probable 4:10 pm post.

First post at 12:05 pm.

In both races, Nelson is aboard the ante-post favourites — Piscean Rocket in the War Zone and 2,000 Guineas winner Willie Goldsmith in the Gladiator.

He will do battle against Walker, who rides Princess Andrea in the War Zone and Potcheen in the Gladiator. They are also carded to do battle in fourth — Nelson aboard the early 3-1 chance Sundown and Walker piloting Jarreau, projected as the morning line 8-5 favourite.

Elsewhere on the card the protagonists will do battle for the overall leadership with Nelson having the leg up on Hawkeye, the projected 5-2 second favourite in the third, while Walker will ride the 9-5 favourite Where Dem Boys. In the second race, Nelson has the leg-up on the early 2-1 favourite Raja Hindustani with Walker climbing aboard Priestking, a 4-1 chance.

Nelson rides the 9-5 chance Cheers in the first race, while he stands down in the eighth. Walker, who will miss the first, will ride in the eighth where Nelson will be absent.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Cheers (Dane Nelson)

Race 2 Raja Hindustani (Dane Nelson)

Race 3 Hawkeye (Dane Nelson)

Race 4 Jarreau (Omar Walker)

Race 5 Flying Miracle (Dane Nelson)

Race 6 Sahara (Ruja Lahoe)

Race 7 Piscean Rocket (Dane Nelson)

Race 8 Trikky Nikki (Shamaree Muir)

Race 9 Willie Goldsmith (Dane Nelson)

Race 10 Searching For Gold (Dick Cardenas)