by TYRONE EVELYN

IS KATE O'CONNOR capable of winning this year's prestigious Triple Crown?

This could be the question on the lips of many race fans when the Arthur Brothers three-year-old filly lines up for The Michael Parravicino Memorial Hopeful Breeders' Stakes & Trophy at the Garrison tomorrow.

Zouk's winning of the prestigious Triple Crown last year, the first horse to achieve this feat in Barbados, has created greater interest in it and consequently race fans see tomorrow's race as a guide to which horse most likely will emerge as the possible Triple Crown winner.

A cross section of race fans consider Kate O'Connor, the champion two-year-old for 2006, to be the most likely winner of this year's three big races based on her outstanding performances as a two-year-old.

The Triple Crown comprises the Banks Barbados Guineas, the Pinnacle Feeds Midsummer Classic and the United Barbados Derby, so the horse that wins tomorrow's race will advertise itself as the potential Triple Crown winner.

Kate O'Connor has already won twice at tomorrow's distance of 1 570 metres, and despite not having raced since January, she looks the one to beat.

Fortunately for her, two of her greatest opponents, the Gay Smith-owned Super Star and Super Tarason are not in tomorrow's line-up and this should make it much easier for her.

Her main rivals in tomorrow's event should be O-G Zan Nages, Apostle, Charlie Blue, Aquarius Star, Enchanted and Miss Spitfire.

The Andrew Nunes-trained O-G Zan Nages finished second to Kate O'Connor over tomorrow's distance of 1 570 metres on January 20, with Charlie Blue finishing third.

Enchanted and Charlie Blue, both trained by William Clarke, have also won at the distance, with the latter registering his second win at the distance last race day, when he easily defeated Aquarius Star (second) and Apostle (third).

Apostle, so easily beaten by Charlie Blue last time out, also scored over tomorrow's distance on December 26 (Boxing Day) when he registered a runaway victory over Super Tarason and Super Star.

And if he could recreate that performance again tomorrow, he could give pre-race favourite Kate O'Connor considerable trouble.

There are some speedsters in the race in Shock And Awe, Pentellenoble, while Apostle and Miss Spitfire also like to push the pace.

This should make the race that more interesting, with horses like Kate O'Connor, Charlie Blue, Enchanted and O-G Zan Nages expected to be running on at the finish.