Champion trainer John O'Brien saddles four horses in Saturday's feature event the Nursery Stakes for West Indies-bred two-year-olds over a distance of 1,000 metres on the main track at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. O'Brien, who has won this event many times in the past years, will be looking to his quartet of With Honors, Passionate, Game Changer and Zanza.
Champion jockey Brian Boodramsing has plumbed for With Honors and that should be a hint to punters. Kimal Santo who is having a great season, riding two Grade One winner so far this season, will be aboard the aptly named Passionate. Ricky Jadoo rides Game Changer for O'Brien and he has a good record with first-time starters. The final horse in the O'Brien quartet is Zanza and this filly will be ridden by Ridge Balgobin. All of O'Brien charges in this event are fillies.
Harold Chadee, who has a fine record with juveniles, saddles two colts in Whiskey Peddler and Lion Guard. Whiskey Peddler is expected to be the flagbearer for the Chadee family and he will be partnered by Rico Hernandez. The final runner in the six-horse field is Lion Guard which will be ridden by Jovika Boodramsing.
The co-feature Handicap for horses rated 80 and Over will see General JN finally in a position to put his head in front in an event over 1,200m. Though saddled with top-weight of 60 kilos, Santo's claim should ensure he walks into the winner's circle. He will be challenged by stablemate Making Headlines which will find this trip on the sharp side.
However, O'Brien brings back the Stewards Cup winner, Early Bird, which will be ridden by Prayven Badrie. He will tote 54.5 kilos the same as Making Headlines which will be ridden by Brian Boodramsing.
The challenge to the O'Brien quartet will come mainly from the Harriram Gobin pair of Master of War and Affirmative. Post time is 12.35 pm.
A total of 77 horses have taken entry.
Here are the declared runners, riders and weights for the ARC seven-race card.
R3: 1.55 PM - NURSERY STAKES -OPEN TO WI BRED 2 YO - 1,000M -$20,000
---*1*Whiskey Peddler*H Chadee/R iHernandez*55*
---*2*Lion Guard*H Chadee/J Boodramsing*55*
---*3*Game Changer*J O'Brien/R Jadoo*52*
---*4*Zanza*J O'Brien/R Balgobin*52*
---*5*With Honors*J O'Brien/B Boodramsing*52*
---*6*Passionate*J O'Brien/K Santo*52*