PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC)
The Jamaican three-year-olds Leonidas and Perfect Circle are in a 14-horse field declared for tomorrow's CLICO Midsummer Classic, the second jewel of Trinidad and Tobago's Triple Crown series, at Santa Rosa Park.
The two Jamaican entries have been drawn on the outside for the TT$300,000 (US$50,150) event - Leonidas at post position 13 and Perfect Circle in the 14 box.
They raced in the Jamaica Derby last month and will be appearing in Trinidad and Tobago for the first time.
In the June 14 Digicel Jamaica Derby that Alsafra won under top Trinidadian jockey Brian Harding, Leonidas had placed fifth and Perfect Circle was seventh.
Gifted Barbadian teenager Chris Husbands, who won the 2006 Royal Oak T&T Derby astride Sara's Music, will be aboard Leonidas in the 1900-metre event.
Perfect Circle will be ridden by the US-based former T&T champion apprentice Navin Mangalee.
The early race favourite is the Jamaica-bred Donut Prince, winner of the Carib Brewery Guineas in May.
By Law of the Sea out of Doctor Bird, Donut Prince captured the Guineas over the 1800 metres under Venezuelan jockey Luis Rodriguez, who will be astride again trying to stay on track for the triple crown.
The field also includes Suga Boy, with Harding, and Silent Reproach (Herbert Martinez), who placed second and third, respectively, in the Guineas two months ago.