LADY FOREMAN (left), with Aaron Chatrie aboard, winning the Grooms' Association of Jamaica trophy over 1000 metres straight at Caymanas Park, last Saturday. The Lorne Kirlew-trained, Michael Wint-owned four-year-old filly won at odds of 4-1. - Colin Hamilton

PALACE GOLD has a first-rate chance of landing tomorrow's 1100-metre open allowance for the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission trophy.

Next to SAINT CECELIA, the five-year-old mare has consistently proven to be the best local bred at sprints, holding her own against the top imported runners at Caymanas Park.

Since beating KIPLING WEEKEND and NOON IT IS at 1100 metres in open allowance, on March 30, PALACE GOLD has faced a baptism of fire from two-time Horse of the Year SAINT CECELIA and the United States-bred runners floating in open allowance and grade one.

Yet, she continues to run them close, placing no worse than fourth in five outings since. Last time out, she came home well at 1000 metres round, to deny EL PONDEROSO second behind HUPOMONE, failing by a length and a quarter in a fast 59.1.

That afternoon, July 13, PALACE GOLD carried 55.5 kilos, hopelessly handicapped out of the race, against the foreigners.

HUPOMONE carried 53 and EL PONDEROSO 51.5 kilos.

Due to her having won an open allowance in March, PALACE GOLD has been carrying upwards of 55 kilos whenever she races in the class against the imported horses.

big performances

Proving that she holds form well, whenever she ventures up in class, to take on grade-one runners, Jaghai's mare runs with 50 or 50.5 kilos and puts in big performances against SAINT CECELIA and BLAST THEM AWAY.

Prior to finishing second to HUPOMONE on July 13, with 55.5 kilos in open allowance, she had carried the same weight on June 8 when fourth by two lengths in a bang-up finish won by GO GO YVONNE over POTCHEEN and COMMANDER ONE at 1200 metres.

In another big performance in open allowance with the weight, she was only a length and three quarters behind BLAST THEM AWAY at 1000 metres straight on May 4.

Trainer Howard Jaghai has finally seen the light and has called up hot apprentice Shamaree Muir, who slips two kilos, to partner the mare against open allowance runners, carrying 52.5 kilos tomorrow.

Sitting almost level with THE GUV and lighter than Wayne DaCosta's main two in the seven-horse field - DOUBLE THE HONEY (54.0) and RIO COBRE (55) - PALACE GOLD certainly catches the fancy.

speed match

She is nicely drawn at post-position six, a nice spot to watch the expected speed match with DOUBLE THE HONEY, LASHING FORCE and UPPA TUNE.

RIO COBRE appears the most dangerous of three runners champion trainer DaCosta has in the event. He has been staying on much stronger in his races this year and will be a tough nut to crack as he steps up from overnight allowance, bidding for back-to-back wins.

However, PALACE GOLD has open allowance pace running through her veins and should stamp her class on the field from her handy mark of 52.5 kilos with the confident Muir aboard.