TRAINER Percy Hussey says his COLONEL WALES should be a sure thing for Monday's 2000-metre Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup.

COLONEL WALES has not won a race in two starts since landing the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes last November and will carry topweight 57 kilos against the likes of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta's LIFEISJUSFORLIVING, who beat him by all of 12 lengths in the 2000 Guineas at a mile on April 5.

Hussey, who won the Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup back-to-back with AERO STAR in 2000 and PEACE & LOVE in 2001, yesterday said he knew it was always a possibility that COLONEL WALES would have carried 57 kilos.

However, he is confident of winning the $3.3-million event, having corrected a fault after the bay colt had finished down the track in the 2000 Guineas.

"If he can't win with 57 kilos, he certainly won't win the Derby with 57," said Hussey, who has summoned none other than Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths to partner his colt.

"If I lose with the weight - which I don't think I will, since I have corrected the problem - by less than five to a horse I am allowing three to seven kilos, that horse will not stand a chance against me in the biggest race, which is the Derby," Hussey said yesterday.

"I wouldn't be upset if I lost because of the weight conditions," he added.

COLONEL WALES would have carried 55 kilos if Richard Azan's 2000 Guineas winner MARK MY WORD was entered for the event.

MARK MY WORD would have carried 57 kilos but his absence resulted in the scale moving up two kilos with COLONEL WALES, due to his Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes win, assuming topweight 57 kilos, up from 55.

"That's the condition of the race," Hussey said. "If that horse was in the race, he would have superseded me. I am the only other graded stakes winner in the race," he added.

"That's why it's called the 'Poor Man's Derby', to give the other horses a chance of winning a big purse," he pointed out.

COLONEL WALES, who beat DaCosta's CLASSY PROSPECT by four and three-quarter lengths in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes, has been travelling well at exercise in the mornings.

Last Tuesday, he clocked seven furlongs in 1:28.4 and lowered that time yesterday morning.

"He had his final gallop this morning, 1:28.2 on my clock, a very good blowout. I was happy with it. Everything is on stream. The most-winning classic and Derby jockey was also happy," said Hussey.

His main danger, he believes, will not be LIFEISJUSFORLIVING, who was caught and beaten by MARK MY WORD in the 2000 Guineas at a mile.

Instead, he pointed to Anthony Nunes' JUNIOR MINISTER, who was third in the 2000 Guineas and reports pretty light with 51 kilos.

"That's the horse, he's working well and improving at the right time," he said.

Percy Hussey - file

Colonel Wales........... 57.0

Classy Prospect........ 56.0

Lifeisjusforliving........ 56.0

Heartofachampion.... 55.0

Global Warming......... 52.0

Prince Rohan............. 52.0

Regal Sensation......... 52.0

Sulamani.................... 52.0

Trial Lawyer.............. 52.0

Brother To Brother..... 51.0

Junior Minister........... 51.0

Train Tracker Boy.... 51.0

Asantewa............... 49.0

Excellence............... 49.0

Flying Margarett...... 48.0

Shawn's Girl.............. 48.0

Also Eligible Kryptogram........... 50.0

Redemption Song.... 50.0

Ovation..................... 48.0

Cue Seven............... 51.0

Michepooh............ 48.0

Cruiser................... 48.0

Yes We Will......... 48.0