Ratified humbles the 'Deputy' Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer TOP DOG DEPUTY'S REPORT had an off day at Caymanas Park yesterday, falling victim to the lightly weighted RATIFIED in the Eileen Cliggott Trophy over 1300 metres for top class horses.
Ridden by lightweight jockey Peter Bryan, RATIFIED (6-1) won by four lengths from the front running 3-1 chance PERSONAL NEMESIS, who held on by a nose from 2-5 favourite DEPUTY'S REPORT in the field of seven. Toting his customary top weight of 60.5kg, DEPUTY'S REPORT found himself outpaced in fifth position for the first 600 metres. He turned for home some five lengths off the pace in fourth and despite being hard driven by Charles Hussey, closed only mildly on this occasion to finish heads on with the Philip Feanny-trained PERSONAL NEMESIS. He thus failed in his bid to win his third consecutive trophy race. RATIFIED, who was soundly beaten by DEPUTY'S REPORT in the Lotto Sprint on May 19, broke well from the number four post position and chased early leader PERSONAL NEMESIS before losing second to 14-1 chance RUCKUS after 400 metres. However, she bided her time only briefly in third, before coming back to mount her challenge as they swung into the straight. She gained the ascendancy approaching the distance following a brief duel with PERSONAL NEMESIS, then moved away over the final 200 metres to win pulling a bus. RATIFIED is co-owned by John Patrick Drake and Andrew Nunes who doubles as trainer. The American four-year-old grey filly by El Prado out of Crafty Prospector had previously won the Lady Geeta Trophy over 1200 metres on April 28, ahead of PERSONAL NEMESIS. Earlier in the afternoon, ALEX'S PEGASUS proved that his poor showing in the recent Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup was attributed to the muddy conditions, when he rebounded with an easy victory over his more fancied stable-companion GLORIOUS STAR in the Restricted Allowance I for native and imported three-year-olds, over the circular nine course. Offering the generous odds of 9-2 with back to form Kenyatta Davis aboard, ALEX'S PEGASUS chased GLORIOUS STAR from a long way out in the field of six. He turned for home in a challenging position and after a brief duel with the Hussey-ridden GLORIOUS STAR, quickened away from early in the last furlong to win by three lengths. Alexander Haber, owner of ALEX'S PEGASUS, attributed his poor showing in the Lotto Classic to the state of the going that day, but added: "I cannot see how they allowed him to win at odds of 9-2, remembering that before the Lotto Classic he was an easy winner over the distance in the good time of 1:58.2. And you see how he came back to win in the identical time", said Haber who is praying the rain keeps away on Derby Day, June 16. Davis had a second winner on the card in TOCUMEN, who made all at 12-1 in the 2-y-o race over 600 metres straight. Also riding two winners in RED LADY (6-5) and OISHIN (14-1) was veteran light weight Robert Reid whose brother, Richie, notched a long overdue win aboard 3-2 shot DEBONAIR in the second race for maiden three-year-olds over the circular nine course.
|
