Jimmie, STAR Racing Writer

WAYNE DaCOSTA's LITTLE WASP is all set to rebound from her December 6 loss to MY SPACE in this afternoon's 1400-metre 10th race for the Sweet Ruckus Trophy, a graded stakes event for two-year-olds.

LITTLE WASP went off as a money-back favourite to notch her fourth straight win from as many starts, but was surprisingly beaten by MY SPACE at 1200 metres after duelling the local-bred down the backstretch and into the lane.

DaCosta's runner had worked brilliantly for the race and shocked her backers. However, she appeared not to have liked duelling and might have preferred an easier pace down the backstretch.

In her previous race, which had slower opening splits, LITTLE WASP tracked and took over the lead before coasting home by eight lengths.

At 1400 metres, she should be more relaxed, stalking another American, VALENTINE LOVER, who showed good speed to win at 1300 metres on December 17.

However, she was coming back at the end and should be outfinished by LITTLE WASP comes calling in the stretch run this afternoon.

Meanwhile, WHEEL N DEAL is simply too light to oppose the 1100-metre Pringle Cup for open allowance runners.

Although he carried 55.0 kilos in the 1200-metre Caribbean Sprint in which he placed third, beaten by AHWHOFAH and OUTSTANDING, WHEEL N DEAL returns 13 lb lighter for today's open allowance feature race against a bunch of horses, who he had behind him on Superstakes Day.

ROMEZ, MUCHO GUSTO, MINISTEROFJUSTICE and NASATOL, horses who all finished behind WHEEL N DEAL on Superday, report heavier than Todd's runner, who was beaten by the two fastest horses in the land.

Benefiting from the Caribbean Sprint's 'invitational' status, which does not penalise performance, WHEEL N DEAL is still eligible to race among open allowance horses and returns a cinch at 49.0 kilos.

Todd has taken full advantage of the weights, calling in experienced lightweight jockey Peter Bryan to make every kilo count in the quick sprint, which pits his runner against speedsters such as the American duo EXPLOSIVE PEAK and SMOOTHABILITY, horses who were not eligible to race in the Caribbean Sprint.

The local cast is led by the talented quartet of MACHISMO, back-to-form BLUE MAGIC, run-on sprinter MUCHO GUSTO and the improved MINISTEROFJUSTICE.

EXPLOSIVE PEAK and SMOOTHABILITY will break from gates four and six, respectively, in what should be a speed duel down the backstretch.

SMOOTHABILITY who comes in pretty light at 49.0 kilos and should put paid to EXPLOSIVE PEAK's chances at 54.0 kilos.

EXPLOSIVE PEAK was unable to cope with OUTSTANDING and SMOOTHABILITY at 1000 metres straight on November 19 and should fold under pressure and the big weight.

SMOOOTHABILITY quit rather early in the CTL Gold Cup on December 6 when beaten by AHWHOFAH, making her a sitting duck for WHEEL N DEAL, who should be watching the match race from third.

WHEEL N DEAL could not have asked for more ideal conditions to stalk SMOOTHABILITY and EXPLOSIVE PEAK into the lane before pouncing under Bryan from where he should hold rivals at bay with only 49.0 kilos.

MUCHO GUSTO coming around from an outside draw could be a dangerous contender if the speedsters run themselves into the ground but the trip seems a trifle short for him to nail WHEEL N DEAL.

BLUE MAGIC should have MACHISMO's ticket, humbling Anthony Nunes' runner on December 10 after he seemed set to break into the top sprinting ranks.

BLUE MAGIC, who has returned to sprinting in the last quarter of this year, notching back-to-back wins, might be in for a shock against tougher rivals as it was ASKAWOMAN, who led for four furlongs when she beat MACHISMO on last.