THE GUARDIAN has a strong early pace to pounce on in tomorrow's St Catherine Cup at 1100 metres with stablemate MR SKILL expected to keep all and sundry honest on the lead.

The plot couldn't be clearer with champion jockey Omar Walker aboard THE GUARDIAN in the open allowance feature race on the 10-race card.

It's a decent nine-horse line-up featuring a very light FOREVER MINE at 49.0 kilos, trainer Neive Graham showing his intentions by calling Carlton Malcolm, who won't go an ounce overweight.

Both horses met in the Sprint on Superstakes Day, sitting level at 57.0 kilos, and THE GUARDIAN finished three and a quarter length second to stablemate AHWHOFAH with FOREVER MINE three and a quarter behind him in third.

Both lost subsequently, FOREVER MINE caught close home by PRINCE OF PEACE at 1100 metres, whereas THE GUARDIAN was beaten by MUCHO GUSTO and SHANGHAI PASS at 1300 metres.

The handicaps now favour FOREVER MINE but with MR SKILL in to chase Graham's runner off the lead, the extra half-furlong should suit THE GUARDIAN.

NATURALLY ROYAL and MINISTEROFJUSTICE are also expected to be in the early pace, hoping to get first run on MR SKILL at the top of the lane.

However, the race should play into Walker's hands as THE GUARDIAN who can track any pace has consistently finished ahead of the other run-on sprinters in the event.

Meanwhile, Superstakes-winning jockey Andre Martin has established himself as the closing act at Caymanas Park, winning every last race at the track since New Year's Day including three Track Price Plus Dig-Out Handicaps, which has him on what could be 60 unassailable points in the 2010 series.

Martin has so far won Track Price Plus Dig-Out Handicap bonus races aboard NATURAL HEART, ARDRIGH and NASATOL to be 42 points clear of apprentice Michael Grant.

Jason Simpson is next on 16 with Trevor Simpson and apprentice Jevvanne Erwin locked on 15.

Martin rides DIESEL for trainer Delroy Wisdom in this Saturday's Dig-Out, hoping to keep a perfect record in the series.

renew rivalry

However, Erwin, who is aboard RICKAYBA for trainer Lazel Khwalsingh, looks set to break Martin's streak.

Ironically, Wisdom was Khwalsingh's assistant before getting a licence last August, setting up a clash between student and teacher.

DIESEL closed strongly for third behind NASATOL and COCK ROBIN at 1000 metres straight on January 2.

The trio renew rivalry in what is expected to be a hot clash on the round course after a length separated them last time out, NASATOL beating COCK ROBIN by a neck and DIESEL three-quarter length away and closing fast.

DIESEL is nicely drawn on the outside, widest in the 16-horse field, whereas NASATOL, running out of Barrington Dawes' barn after being claimed from Robert Darby Sr, is two stalls away at post-position 14 with four-kilo claiming apprentice Aaron Chatrie, going for a 23rd career win.

However, RICKAYBA's last run should be thrown out by form players, 15 lengths down the track behind SIR ARCHIBALD on a $300,000 tag.

Now down in class with 49.0 kilos after placing second to out-of-class BABY JAZZ in his previous race, RICKAYBA looks set to come alive.