Exciting pre-Christmas card at Santa Rosa

Excitement will rage among the jockeys, disputing the 2016 title - defending champin Prayven Badrie and challenger Ronald “Tiger” Ali.

To date, Ali leads with 42 winning rides to Badrie’s 37, meaning the champion must be at his best today and on te final day, Boxing Day if he is to close and then retain his title.

Despite serving a suspension, champion trainer John O’Brien has saddled 36 winners, same as arch-rival Glenn Mendez with Harriram “Pepsi” Gobin on 31, is in with an outside shout.

Ridge Balgobin with 15 winning rides leads Jovika Boodramsingh (12) by three in the race towards the apprentice jockeys title, and can be followed as they duke it out. Feature race today is a 1700 metres run for horses rated 80-60, which on paper seems a very open affair.

But the selection goes to Enzo, but American Ranger is a worthy challenger, so too Trini Navigator and Takeoneforjoey.

The two-year-old “babes” will be in action again, this time over 1200 metres when first time starter Juneau and Johnygotlucky should be the principals.

There is a single winner bonus of over $#6,000 on the Hi5 added to a Superfecta bonus of over $13,000.