- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
PROMINENT (Wesley Henry) is driven all out to win The Star Trophy feature over 1820 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
SIMILAR TO last year, the second running of the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance for the Star Trophy resulted in a thrilling finish, victory going to the front running 6-1 shot PROMINENT.
Ridden by former champion jockey Wesley "Callaloo" Henry for owner/trainer Michael Beecham, PROMINENT, who led from the start and enjoyed a commanding lead into the straight, held on by half a length from the fast finishing BLACK THATCH, the 9-5 favourite under champion jockey Trevor Simpson, with EMPERADOR (10-1), the mount of Trinidadian jockey Brian Harding, closing fast along the rails in third, another short head away.
In fourth place, also close up, was 5-1 shot GLORIOUS STAR who, after racing with the backmarkers, closed rapidly in the middle for fourth in a field of 11.
PROMINENT broke smartly from the No. 10 post position and rushed into the lead. He was chased by 55-1 outsider PROCEEDACCORDINGLY as they turned into the backstretch, closely followed by EMPERADOR and BLACK THATCH, on the rails after being slowly into stride, and the well-backed MILLENIUM PRINCESS at 3-1.
Bowling along merrily in front passing the half mile, at which stage EMPERADOR had gone second, PROMINENT turned for home some five lengths clear of PROCEEDACCORDINGLY, but the latter failed to mount a challenge and faltered in mid-stretch.
Although slowing down a bit midway through the last furlong, PROMINENT responded to a strong ride from Henry to stave off the late charges of BLACK THATCH, coming back strongly on the wide outside, EMPERADOR and GLORIOUS STAR, duly turning the tables on the filly BLACK THATCH who had beaten him into second place over 1500 metres on March 5.
"After that race," recalled Beecham, "I called Henry and pointed to The Star Trophy in the condition booklet and said to him 'this is the race we going to win'.
"One thing I knew, Black Thatch couldn't beat me today ... when I lost to her it was the inexperience of the apprentice rider which contributed to that defeat and I knew that Henry would make a big difference this time," he said.
"PROMINENT is a good horse. I worked on him for this race to present him 100 per cent fit and although the race looked competitive on paper, I was confident of winning," said the elated trainer.
Henry expressed similar sentiments, the only difference was that when he summed up the situation leaving the starting gates he abandoned the game plan to sit with the pace and put PROMINENT in front.
"He broke sharply on top and when I realised that none of the other pace horses (BLACK THATCH, MILLENIUM PRINCESS, EMPERADOR) wanted the lead, I said catch me if you can. I knew I had it in the bag when stealing a march on the field from the half mile and this is a race I would love to win again," said the 28-year-old jockey who was champion in 1997.
In an after-race get together in the Director's Room, the winning connections were toasted by representatives of the sponsors, the Gleaner Company Limited and promoters, Caymanas Track Limited.
Earlier, the imposing Star Trophy was presented to Beecham by Richard Ashenheim, honourary chairman of the Gleaner Company and himself a 'Hall of Fame' inductee in the racing personalities category.
Later in the afternoon, DANCING PRINCESS (3-1) produced a strong last furlong run to win the closing $100,000 claiming race for the Track & Pools Trophy over 1100 metres, by 1 1/4 lengths from long-time leader THE RHYTHM DOCTOR at 11-1.
The winner, a seven-year-old mare by Dixie Dancer out of Camp Follower, was ridden by the promising apprentice Dane Nelson for trainer Jackson Hong.
On a day when the fancied horses held their own for the most part, the 10-race programme produced six winning favourites, including the Richie Todd-trained FRANCESCA'S DREAM who made all impressively in the Tewfic Ziadie Memorial Cup over the circular nine course.
The day's lone upset was provided by the 3-y-o debutante OK MOM at 25-1 in the eighth race for the Hottie Hottie Plaque over 1400 metres for maidens. The roan filly by Slick Trick out of Wishing was ridden by Elvis Murray for owner Patrick Smellie and trainer Fernando Geddes.
