Jimmie, Star Racing Writer

CHAMPION jockey Omar Walker should make the difference aboard MR SKILL in today's Gerry Skelton Memorial feature race at Caymanas Park.

Partnered by Dane Nelson in nine of his 10 starts to date, the speedy three-year-old gelding has racked four wins and five seconds, including his last three outings.

Although lightning quick, MR SKILL has not been getting a breather from Nelson and, in his last outing, definitely appeared a bit leg weary after running early two-furlong splits of 22 seconds-plus in four consecutive races.

Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta cooled out the speedster after his May 24 run, caught too quickly by FLAGAMAN in an 1,100-metre dash, and has Walker doing duties, replacing Nelson with whom he recently parted ways.

However, it could have very well been MR SKILL's previous run, a three-length loss to last year's Derby winner, THE BOMBER, on March 24, which might have hurt him, as the race was run in a ridiculously fast 1:05.4.

After MR SKILL's loss to FLAGAMAN, THE BOMBER returned and ran a floundering race against RUM TALK, suggesting their duel might have affected both horses.

However, MR SKILL has looked in good form at exercise, zipping 1,100 metres on July 21 and 27, clocking 1:06.3 and 1:07.4, respectively. In addition, Walker's tender hands down the backstretch should make a world of difference in rating MR SKILL instead of the tear away lead he is accustomed to under Nelson.

MR SKILL is quick enough to lead his seven rivals on the bridle to at least a furlong and a half out before Walker asks him a serious question.

However, if MR SKILL has not recovered sufficiently, Gary Subratie's RIO INFINITO, the next quickest in the eight-horse field, could pounce in the stretch run.

Elsewhere on the 10-race card, two-year-old WORKING IMAGE, MISS CREE, TRUE HONOUR, TASSY'S WHIP and GOOD SENSE appear to be sound bankers in their respective races.

WORKING IMAGE won impressively on debut at 600 metres straight and continues to work well for the 1000-metre round first race, clocking 1:01.2 for the distance last Monday morning.

MISS CREE, who was beaten in a driving finish by HI TECH at 1100 metres on July 23, should go all the way at 1200 metres in third, whereas TRUE HONOUR, due to his four-month lay-up, returns against lesser lights in the fourth at a mile among non-winners-of-three.

Down-in-class TASSY'S WHIP should be good enough to beat $180,000 claimers in the sixth after finishing three lengths fifth behind AGUILA, TRIPLE ACCOUNT and WE WILL SEE as recently as June 4.

GOOD SENSE is also a good thing on a lower tag after an even third-place finish behind DANCING SAM and SECRET HIDEAWAY at 1000 metres round on July 19.