Royal Miss on a repeat mission

IMPROVING Royal Miss is on a repeat mission, and this filly will pay to follow in the Starter Allowance on the turf course, on Day 5 of the Arima Race Club 2005 season at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, today. The Kenneth de Silva Jr-trained four-year-old comfortably beat a good field over 1750 metres on the main track on Saturday last. But the American-bred daughter of Formal Gold/Her Majesty Rose, despite packing only 47.5 kilos this time, is in a slightly stronger field and will be racing over 1600 metres on the turf today.

Among her challengers will be Dottie’s Way who has been dropped in class, but who will be giving away seven kilos to Royal Miss, to be ridden by Ricardo Jadoo this time. Porto Cervo, a disappointment since coming to Trinidad out of England, is being ridden by ace jockey Emile Ramsammy today, and this could be a pointer. And also holding the engagement are the consistent Sure Ting and the eight-year-old Barbadian-bred gelding  Mandela. Salsa Moves looks sure to be the pick in the Restricted Handicap sprint over 1100 metres also on the turf.

This four-year-old can really step, and shows she was returning to her best when finishing fourth last time out. Stablemate Java Takeover, also well endowed with speed, could be Salsa Moves’ biggest worry. But also holding the engagement are Smooth Operator who will be partnered by Ramsammy, Life In The Sky and Lady Rossie, who has been showing some sparkle at gallops.

It could be a three-way battle for the 1200 metres race for West Indies-bred three-year-old maidens with Joy, Baby Mass and Jamaican-bred Footwork holding the engagement. Footwork shaped well when finishing runner-up to the classy Arts And Lovers last time on the track, and the same can be said of Joy who finished in the same position to Flying Millie at the “Carnival Friday Lime” over 1300 metres. First timer St Mike has been showing good form at gallops, and with Ramsammy in his saddle must be respected. The action is timed to  begin at 12.15 pm with an optional claimer over 1300 metres.