- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
The American colt FORGOTTEN HERO strides out beautifully under champion jockey Trevor Simpson to win yesterday's Caymanas Park feature, the $1 million Pepsi Invitational race over 1500 metres by six lengths. The favourite HERECOMESFUDGIE (left) and SPIRIT OF JAMAICA (right) finished second and third respectively in the field of seven.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE American 4-y-o colt FORGOTTEN HERO turned in an impressive display at Caymanas Park yesterday to win the third running of the $1 million Pepsi Invitational race over 1500 metres in fine style.
Installed a 9-5 second favourite in a field of seven top class horses, FORGOTTEN HERO exploded from early in the straight to win by all of six lengths from the 3-2 favourite HERECOMESFUDGIE under top apprentice Paul Francis, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:31.1 to equal the existing stakes record.
When the starter let them go it was the stable-companions SATISFIER (9-1) and HERECOMESFUDGIE, both trained by Philip Feanny for popular owner Joseph "Fudgie" Duany, who disputed the lead some two lengths clear of highly fancied SPIRIT OF JAMAICA (5-2), who raced marginally ahead of FORGOTTEN HERO biding his time in fourth for the first 600 metres.
HERECOMESFUDGIE, under a somewhat hurried ride, surged ahead of SATISFIER leaving the half mile but Simpson aboard FORGOTTEN HERO was not going to be caught napping and soon went in chase of the leader.
He caught up with HERECOMESFUDGIE approaching the home turn but was forced to challenge on the outside as "FUDGIE" stepped wide entering the straight.
A brief duel then ensued but it soon became obvious that FORGOTTEN HERO was going the better. He disposed of HERECOMESFUDGIE approaching the distance and skittered away in a flash for an emphatic win, his fourth from six starts locally.
FORGOTTEN HERO was winning his first grade one race. The dark bay son of Struggler - Dance Close hails from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta who co-owns him with Winston Kong.
Simpson said he was fairly confident that if judiciously ridden, FORGOTTEN HERO would make amends for his losing effort (third) behind A KING IS BORN in the Digicel Cup over 1300 metres on August 30 when ridden by lightweight jockey Peter Bryan.
"On that occasion he was used up too early and couldn't finish. The plan was to rate him from just off the early pace this time and it worked perfectly.
"I know this horse like the back of my hand," said the three-time champion jockey who had ridden him to victory on two previous occasions. "We get on well together" added Simpson.
MAJOR OBJECTIVE
FORGOTTEN HERO's next major objective is the prestigious Red Stripe Mile on Superday, Saturday, November 9.
On a day when veteran singer Ken Boothe, A.J. Brown and Richie B (M.C.) entertained the near capacity crowd, former champion jockey Shane Ellis and trainer Anthony "Baba" Nunes teamed up for three winners each on the 11-race programme.
Among them was the American bred two-year-old colt ZICKWARTY who made all impressively in the Pepsi Twist Restricted Allowance II over 1100 metres, winning by 9 1/2 lengths from POSITIVE VIBES in the smart time 1:05.3.
ZICKWARTY is co-owned by Edmond Lam and the Barbadian based Elias Haloute, both of whom had a second winner the topline three-year-old gelding PITTACUS (2-1) who won the 7Up Sprint (overnight allowance) over 1300 metres by 3 3/4 lengths from 4-5 favourite JACK DE PRINCE with Simpson astride. PITTACUS clocked a fast 1:18.2 for the distance and will now be prepared for the WITRA Classic over 2000 metres on Heroes Saturday, October 18.
Ellis had a third winner when COMMON D at evens finished in a dead-heat for first with 5-1 chance ROYAL BELLE in the opening race for three-year-olds (non winners of two) over the circular nine course.
With the form horses falling like ninepins on what was another tough day for form players, there were some notable upsets on the card.
These were led by the Noel Ennevor-trained debutante APACHE BRAVE at 34-1 under the sparingly used Kingsley Beckford in the eighth race for maiden three-year-olds, CLEVER STAR at 14-1 in the closing Aquafina Rush Trophy for $140,000 claimers, DANCING FLAMES at 9-1 to complete a double for trainer Michael Beecham, YYESSBABY at 6-1, one of two winners for the improving apprentice Marklee Buchanan, and RED WOOD at 5-1 in the Ting Classic Trophy to complete a double for senior jockey Clive Lynch.
