Gamble a Likkle Bit

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Today's mid-week programme at Caymanas Park offers no trophy races, hence the three-year-old-and-up overnight allowance race over 1400 metres moves into the spotlight as the most valuable race on the card.

It has attracted seven starters but even with a small field, the race should provide keen competition among the quartet of PRIME MINISTER, SLOGAN, HAIL THE GENIUS and LIKKLE BIT.

PRIME MINISTER has scored only once from 13 starts this season, yet the five-year-old from the stable of Richie Todd has been a model of consistency and, having finished second in his last two races, could well go one better.

He ran MR. BLAIR to a length over this trip in the Jockey Club Stakes on October 3 when having then favourite SLOGAN behind in fourth and HAIL THE GENIUS in fifth.

On the strength of that performance, PRIME MINISTER is afforded a sound chance with the improving claiming apprentice Jodeien Anderson riding light at 50.0kg.

SLOGAN has 2 1/4 lengths to make up on PRIME MINISTER based on his October 3 performance behind MR. BLAIR, but has come down nicely in the weights, by virtue of apprentice Richard Mair's 4.0kg claiming allowance, and can definitely impact on the outcome with only 50.0kg.

Best equipped

While respecting the chances of Clifford Atkinson-trained SLOGAN and also PRIME MINISTER at the weights, the one best equipped to pull it off must be LIKKLE BIT, with former champion jockey Shane Ellis riding for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.

The American 4-year-old gelding was not beaten far in his last two races over distances short of his best and will appreciate the extended trip.

LIKKLE BIT stayed on to finish 4 1/4 lengths seventh to ROMEZ over 1200 metres when last raced on October 17 and prior to that was three lengths fourth to PAGEE PRINCESS over 1100 metres.

With the trip now ideal, LIKKLE BIT, who failed by a short head to beat ENGLISH STORM in last November's CTL Imported Mile, should prove too strong for SLOGAN and PRIME MINISTER in deep stretch.

The son of Family Calling has worked well in preparation for the race, galloping 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:08.3, the last five in 1:01.3. With his preparation complete, LIKKLE BIT should get there in the nick of time.

Other firm fancies on the card are the improving DAZZLE DEM to win the opening race for maiden three-year-olds, the highly thought of two-year-old debutant, DOUBLE THE HONEY in the third; down in class ROMEZ to resume winnings ways in the fifth; and back-to-form PICCOLO to go one better in the closing Track Price Plus 'Dig Out' Handicap over 1820 metres.