The countdown to the 2003 edition of the Royal Oak Derby is underway, with Derby fever becoming contagious in the horse  racing fraternity.

Although many will audition, only one will be chosen for the part of lead actor and today we review the candidates for the “Bunny Prize” of last place. The candidates come from across the Caribbean and once again feature contenders from Barbados. In traditional fashion though we are back. In 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 we got it right although last year, we lost by a long two lengths, so a return to glory is the objective of this analysis (which took all of five and a half minutes). What follows, we hope is understood for what it is — an analysis of the inability of the ability of the three-year-olds on display. In a race that requires ability to win, we look at the disabilities that lead to 15th and last place. The outsiders for this contest are easy to diagnose, their pedigree suggests that they will be doing their best work at the business end of the race, and will not leave their owners bankrupt and in debt. They are money earners for the racing club and the money takers for the betting public.

Top of the Class is at 1500-1 to place dead last in this field, but the musical chairs of opinions from jockeys and trainers, particularly those involving “under pressure” jockey Ricardo Jadoo, suggest that Top of the Class, may in fact have been over-trained especially in his latest gallop. Undisputed and Celebration Time come from the same family in terms of ownership. However while both colts have shown some promise in commercials, they have failed to perform under lights on most occasions. Undisputed has the better pedigree. This colt however, like Celebration Time, seems destined to play a bit role. Both have been coupled at 1000-1. Super Grey, with the wily tipster who has a lot of knowledge as his trainer, may still find that he would need to borrow Superman’s wings to win, and is in at 600-1. The Bajans are here in three folds: already there is some interspersed betting for one of them. If there is one sign it is that not many Barbadians have made the trip. In the meantime, while the few Bajans and some jockeys jostle to stay out of this last place betting, the bookmakers (and now there are fewer and fewer and fewer) or the OTBs are not taking any betting on this, for fear of a backlash from concerned and knowledgeable customers. Did I remind everyone that this bet is only available in certain parts of Trinidad and not even in Tobago?

At 500-1 is the other Bajan, Sweet Dreams with a “Trini” abroad in Rajpaul Rajkumar, adding fuel to the fire that a “Trin”i man can ride a Bajan better than one of their own. At 250-1 is Royal Red, the last of the threesome from Barbados. Trinidadian poker players, turned gamblers on race days are putting their well-learned cash on Barbadian Jason Maughn not being able to steer Ginger Bay (150-1) the right way around this track, and he may find himself in some difficulty racing backwards. Sir Vidia with Jody Arneaud in the saddle is trained by President of the Trainers Association; Shaffique Khan and he could be forgiven for this blatant attempt to pad the field. Again this colt has shown promise on occasions, and is one that could run into a place at big odds. However he is at 100-1 to place last. After some moments of positive conviction, odds on Golden Honour have lengthened from 90-1 to 100-1 (without a Running nose or any overweight). Now though the real betting begins, because at 70-1 to carry her large frame past the winning post, as the others unsaddle, is Sweet Tempo. At 10-1, we have a bunch of contenders and queue of gamblers waiting to lay on these prices. The bookies are a little concerned that some trainers and owners connected with several of the contenders are generously unloading blue notes as the odds drop on their horses. Isle Be There and Royal Flush are from 10-1 to 8-1. Due Diligence is at 3-1 and there are a lot of takers and there has been the need for an additional cashier to be called upon to assist with the situation, as the crowds are swarming to the $100 minimum bet line.

In fact what was observed on Friday, is that a number of binoculars were astonishingly bought at a number of Port-of-Spain establishments, merely with the race in mind and with a view to see their particular contenders for the last place competition battle his/her way home. The three favourites are two talented sons and a daughter of the soil. They are home-bred, locally ridden and they will have no excuses, and on their day would take a lot of beating in this race. Though the conditions of the betting and the distance of the race (2,000 metres) suggest that theirs will be a tussle to the line. At 1-2 is My Aphrodite, with Van Nistlerooy quoted by most layers at 2-5 making him the outright favourite to follow his coach Alex Ferguson, sucking a lemon this season, as Arsenal win it all in the English premiership. Between the two of them (My Aphrodite and Van Nistlerooy) though there is a private bet as to who will do better than whom. In fact, their connections all believe, as do the other 13 owners, that they can gain a place in the valuable contest. If wishes were horses maybe…

TRINIDAD and Tobago champions CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh have reached the semi-finals in the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup without touching a ball.

The TT Pro League 2002 winners and currently unbeaten this season after 18 matches, were handed a bye from the Caribbean zone. But last season’s runners-up W Connection will play FCS Nacional of Suriname in the home-and-away qualifying round, scheduled for November 5 and 12. According to the fixtures, seven Caribbean Football Union (CFU) teams will be challenging for a place in the final. Apart from Jabloteh and W Connection,  the other CFU teams are Arnett Gardens FC, Portmore United (Jamaica), Jong Colombia, CS Barber (Netherlands Antilles) and FCS Nacional (Suriname). In first phase action, Jong Colombia meet Arnett Gardens FC in Series 1, while Portmore United take on  CS Barber in Series 2. Completing the opening round of fixtures will be a clash between FCS Nacional and W Connection FC in Series 3.

Winners of each series will join Jabloteh in the home-and-away semi-finals on November 26 and December 3 this year. The two winners of the semi-finals will battle for the CFU’s berth to the 2004 Champions Cup at a date to be determined. Remaining 2004 breakdown of teams for the Champions Cup will feature two clubs each from Mexico and USA, along with three clubs qualifying from Union Centroamericana de Futbol (UNCAF) Championship later this year.

Here are the fixtures:
FIRST PHASE – November 5, 12 – First Team listed to host opening leg of series: Series 1: JONG COLOMBIA vs ARNETT GARDENS.
Series 2: PORTMORE UNITED vs CS BARBER
Series 3: FCS NACIONAL  vs W CONNECTION.
Semi-finals – November 26 and December  3, 2003 – CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh vs Series 1 winners; Series 2 winners vs Series 3 winners.

Squadron Sports Club host their Sports and Family Day today (Republic Day) at the club’s grounds, Henry Street, Arouca, featuring over 30 events. Categories range from Under-5 to adults.

The day is an opportunity for community members to come together and participate in friendly competition and offers track events, BMX races, tug of war, seven-a-side small goal football, ten overs windball cricket and knock-out basketball competitions. All events are open to men and women and cash prizes will be presented to all winners stated a media release from Rawle Raphael, an official of Squadron. Winning teams will receive a case of beer while the second-placed teams will take home 12. All third-placed teams will get a case of soft drinks. Registration is $3 per individual and $25 per team and must be paid before the event. For further information call Jerome Chaitan at 669-2643 or Rawle Raphael at 622-9516.

RSSR Football Academy will host their annual Russell Latapy Youth Football Invitational one-day tournament today at the Laventille Community Complex Grounds from 9 am.

Six teams, RSSR, Cap Off Youths FC, Elements FC, Tyro FC, Cruz International and St Mary’s FC, will be in contention for the Russell Latapy Challenge Trophy and 20 gold medals. Runners up will receive a trophy and twenty silver medals. The RSSR Under-15s will also play two exhibition matches against Cruz International and Trendsetter Hawks after which the winning teams will receive trophies donated by the National Self Help Commission. There will also be awards for the “Most Valuable Player,” “Most Goals” and “Best Disciplined Team.” The chairman of the National Self Help Commission is expected to be present to kick off the ball to start the exhibition between RSSR and Trendsetter Hawks at 9.30 am.

A 26th minute goal from Jamal Hill was the only item in the match and proved enough for Nelson Street Youths.

The goal helped them eke a win out of their encounter with Destiny Crus-aders as the 2003 Milo Under-15 Su-nday School Foot-ball League co-ntinued on Saturday at the St Paul’s Street Ground in Port-of-Spain. Deliverance and Bad Boyz had the tightest match on the day as they wrestled to a 0-0 draw while Young Stars secured a 2-0 shutout of Irie Sports on goals fro-m Kino Alexander and Kevin Holder. In other matches SEPAO on two goals from Sheon “Boots” Phillip and one from Barry Ha-rinton beat Credo Youths 3-0. On Sunday Boss-es Youths players Hackim Phillip and Hameed Jack scor-ed one each to lead their team to a 2-0 win over Credo.

SAMBA Xtra Malt East San Juan United have danced their way past Delta Glass Young Hearts 6-0 in the Arthur “Jap” Brown Trophy series in their Eastern Football Association.

Allan Sorzano netted a double in Sunday’s match, while Dexter Joslyn, Brent Edwards, Kurt Cudjoe and Ricky Abdool completed the blitz. The victory pushed the San Juan team to 37 points, nine more than Crab Connection who were idle over the weekend and have two matches in hand. The Samba boys recently protested a referee’s ruling in a FA qualifier. The team’s official John Martin said yesterday he believed they have a good case but regrets any inconvenience caused to Joseph “Sam” Phillip, manager of Joe Public who was named in the protest letter. Phillip is also an executive member of the EFA. Defending champions WASA Clean and White were held to an exciting 2-2 draw by fourth-from bottom Athletico Sports Institute also on Sunday.

Darren Modeste and Curt Hutchins scored for the WASA team, while Clint Raymond and Lester Richards netted for the Institute. And last season runners-up Carib FC suffered a 6-2 hammering by league first-timers Hearty Foods Bulls. This match was a revelation for Kevin Daniel who scored four goals for the Bulls, while Ellis Jones got the other two.  Billy Dee Scanterbury and Clyde Gill got the goals for the Brewery Boys. Joe Public edged BM Spurs 1-0 on Shevon Noreiga’s goal, while bottom team East/West Coaching School shut out JGS Maloney Two Touch 2-0 for only their second win in 15 matches.  Alvin Guevera and an Alvin Govia own-goal set up the victory.

GOALSCORING ace Brent Cruick-shank scored two more goals to lead 1976 FC Phoenix XS to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Sidey’s, as action in the Warner’s Group of Companies-sponsored Tobago Football Association Semi-Professional League continued.

Cruickshank opened the scoring in the 31st minute of Sunday afternoon’s match, the first of a double-header programme at Shaw Park, Tobago. And he closed the show with a 61st minute strike, while Neil Bruce added his quota in the 41st minute and Curtis Trim got his name on the scoresheet in the 45th. Pepsi Hills United moved to within one point of idle two-time defending champions St Clair’s Coaching School, getting the better of Earlbrokes 4-3 in a high-scoring Shaw Park finale on Sunday. Lester Winchester opened the scoring in the 24th minute, and Eustace Stewart scored in the 43rd as the Hills Boys celebrated a 2-0 halftime scoreline. But Cuthbert Ragman reduced the lead in the 51st minute and Brindsley Reid knotted up the scores in the 53rd to see Hills press the panic button.

Ryan Thomas restored the Pepsi-sponsored men lead in the 57th minute and after John Waldron again equalised for Earlbrokes in the 59th, Thomas fired in a 90th minute winner to complete his double. And at Roxborough ground also on Sunday, Georgia FC whipped Charlotteville Unifiers 3-1. Burton Phillips put Georgia in front in the 30th minute only for Marvin Eastman to notch an equaliser in the 40th. But Unifiers had no answer for Ellis St Hillaire’s 73rd minute goal nor for the 83rd minute strike of Robby Thomas. On Saturday, Biwater Stokelyvale dumped Bethel United 3-1 to inch closer to the leaders.