Simpson
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
SECOND favourites PAY PER VIEW and PHAREAL won yesterday's co-feature races, the Hot Line and Sir Howard Stakes, over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
In the $400,000 Hot Line Stakes for native bred three-year-old fillies, PAY PER VIEW, running at odds of 9-5 with Clive Lynch aboard, came through in the last 200 metres to win by 1 3/4 lengths from 9-2 chance PRINCESS ALEXANDRA who got up in the final stride to pip long-time leader and 8-5 favourite PUREJOY for second in a field of seven.
It was the Philip Feanny-trained PUREJOY who showed superior speed under former champion Percy Williams to lead by two lengths from PAY PER VIEW and highly fancied DANCE WITH THE CAT leaving the half mile with PRINCESS ALEXANDRA outpaced.
PUREJOY turned for home (wide) with PAY PER VIEW breathing down her neck. But although hard driven, the chestnut filly by Royal Minister out of Making Peace, eventually wilted under pressure early in the last furlong, enabling PAY PER VIEW to gain the ascendancy. In the end she won quite comfortably.
Owned by Mercedes Gold and trained by Desmond Shand, PAY PER VIEW notched her second consecutive win from three starts, both over 1200 metres. She is bred by Aqueduct Stud Farms Limited.
Later in the afternoon it was the turn of 5-2 chance PHAREAL to humble 4-5 favourite NEST OF BIRDS in the Sir Howard Stakes for native bred three-year-old colts and geldings.
Ridden by the sparingly used 41-year-old jockey Everton "Goosie" Stone for champion trainer Philip Feanny, PHAREAL responded to a torrid right-hand stick down the stretch to stave off the Charlie Hussey-ridden NEST OF BIRDS by half a length in a driving finish, also involving 8-1 chance PATAS DE FUEGO who finished another half length away and 17-1 chance CONGO MAN, a close up fourth.
With GLORIOUS STAR (6-1) rearing at the start and losing ground and NEST OF BIRDS not the best away after suffering some interference at the start, several horses jostled for the early lead before PHAREAL came through approaching the 600-metre pole and kept on strongly.
Owned by Joseph Duany of I'MSATISFIED fame and by H.A.M. Stables Limited, PHAREAL provided Stone with his first winner since CAPPO for Feanny on August 6, 1999 (Independence Day).
Stone, a top jockey in the late '70s and early '80s, never rode last year and this was only his third ride this year. Yet he rode a competent race an was congratulated by Feanny for a job well done. Stone said:
"I have been working Phareal in the mornings for some time and Mr. Feanny decided to give me the ride because I have developed a good relationship with the horse.
"Jockeys are afraid to work him in the mornings because he whips around with them and give all sort of problems. Not with me, though, because I talk to him and he responds positively to this ... we understand each other and that's the key."
Meanwhile, two-time champion jockey Trevor "Slicer" Simpson marked an important milestone when he rode his 600th winner locally aboard the Stanley Findlay-trained SILVER JOY (5-1) in the second race. Simpson came back to win aboard the 20-1 outsider PLAYMATE for veteran trainer Billy Williams in the fourth race for maiden three-year-olds over the round five course.
"I was looking forward to riding my 600th before leaving the island to resume riding at Finger Lakes in upstate New York early next month," Simpson said. "Next Saturday could welll be my last day in the saddle for now."
