APOSTLE will have every chance to show he is the real deal when he takes on the top-class animals in today’s feature Val Gale Cup for three-year-olds-and-older, rated 0-145 and going 1 800 metres, on the Barbados Turf Club’s fourth day of racing.At weight for age, and in a race now devoid of early speed with the non-acceptance of the mare Bouncebak, there’s absolutely no reason why the Elias Haloute and Sir Charles Williams-owned six-year-old bay horse shouldn’t win. The Andrew Nunes trained-Apostle had a string of substandard performances towards the end of last year, but opened his 2010 campaign with a commanding triumph in the Coolmore “Home Of Champions” Stakes & Trophy over 1 800 metres for the top-rated animals. He followed that up with a sublime performance in this year’s Sandy Lane Gold Cup, where he set a blistering pace, and was only beaten to the post by the overseas invaders, Sterwins and Bribon.The Sir David Seale-owned Preach To Me seems to have recovered from an earlier setback. He was seen at his best when winning the Lost In The Fog Handicap over 1 100 metres easily, at a distance that many consider too sharp for him, and with Nobel Abrego aboard, he will get all the help from the saddle despite carrying joint top weight of 129. The Jonathon Simpson trained-Rocamadour is the most improved horse in training at the Garrison and his record this year of three wins, and two seconds, from five starts is proof.Included in his victories is a win in the Caribbean Money Market Brokers Signature Service Trophy Handicap over 2 000 metres for top-rated horses, but whereas in that race he took 107 pounds, today he saddles 123 pounds, and this could be his undoing. Lord Michael Taylor has two entered in this feature, with Show Me The Money the bigger threat. He is a consistent sort, and despite being at the top of the handicap, any chances of a trip to winners’ enclosure for this stable rests with him.The second Taylor entrant, Pure Temptation, is struggling and will have to turn back the hands of time even to find a place. Trainer Edward Walcott Jnr. has gone winless for five straight race days, but his charge Zoom is showing clear signs of running into the form that saw him win the 2009 Tanglewood Stakes & Trophy.The Midnight Tornado Handicap for three-year-olds-and-older rated 0-65, going 1 570 metres, should provide a thrilling finish.Wash Brook, a winner of his last start in the Silver Charm Trophy over 1 570 metres, will not only have to defy a weight increase of 16 pounds (121 pounds), but the speed of stablemates All Aboard and La Padrino. His final challenge here would also be to survive an expected rattle at the death from Just Jiving and No Spin Zone. My Picks Race 1: Prince Of GrovesRace 2: Reward MeRace 3: Gin For MeRace 4: Bram StokerRace 5: Wash BrookRace 6: ApostleRace 7: Jamaica MoonRace 8: Joe Grimes
