- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
LIL' COUNTRY BOY, one of three winners for champion jockey Trevor Simpson, powers home in yesterday's Caymanas Park feature for the Eileen Cliggott Trophy over 1300 metres to notch his fourth consecutive win. He was a 4-5 favourite in a field of six top-class horses.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE CRACK American 4-y-o colt LIL 'COUNTRY BOY turned in another awesome front-running display at Caymanas Park yesterday to win the 3-y-o and up Graded Stakes for the Eileen Cliggott Trophy over 1300 metres under top weight of 58kg.
In so doing, 'COUNTRY BOY' put the brakes on the impressive American 3-y-o filly INTERNET COMMANDER who failed in her bid to make it five in a row.
He also left in his wake the ageing champion sprinter I'MSATISFIED who ran on strongly for second under four-time champion Charles Hussey, replacing leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths who had ridden him in all previous races over the past year and before.
Installed a 4-5 favourite with champion jockey Trevor Simpson again at the helm, LIL'COUNTRY BOY showed vastly superior speed to win by 1 1/2 lengths from the fast-finishing I'MSATISFIED (2-1) who in turn had three lengths to spare over the 32-1 outsider MILLIMETRE in a field of six top class horses.
CLASH OF THE SEASON
During the early stages, 'COUNTRY BOY' led narrowly from the 7-5 second favourite INTERNET COMMANDER with veteran lightweight Robert Reid aboard. But the so-called 'Clash of the Season' between the two Americans never really materialised, as LIL' COUNTRY BOY turned up the heat on INTERNET COMMANDER leaving the half mile to turn for home with a commanding lead over I'MSATISFIED gone in chase.
With six lengths to spare over his closest rival passing the quarter pole, Simpson had it sewn up when 'COUNTRY BOY' flashed past the furlong pole four lengths clear of I'MSATISFIED closing wide, and only had to be shown a flashing right-hand stick to win unchallenged, as INTERNET COMMANDER finished a distressed animal in last place.
Owned by Alexander Haber and trained by reigning champion Wayne DaCosta, LIL'COUNTRY BOY covered the distance in the satisfactory time of 1:18.2, behind exciting splits of 22.3, 45.2 and 1:11.0 for the first 1200 metres. The 4-y-o son of Diligence - Lil'Country Gal has won his past four races, all of these since he was scoped and administered Lasix for the first time when winning the Arthur Jones Cup over 1200 metres on March 20. He has since taken over the mantle from I'MSATISFIED as the country's top sprinter.
Haber was full of praise for the champion trainer who he said has brought on his charge in timely fashion. He said: "LIL'COUNTRY BOY is the fastest horse at Caymanas Park and despite the big weight, I knew he would use superior speed to drop out the belly of Internet Commander.
A GOOD FILLY
"She's a good filly, but LIL'COUNTRY BOY will make any horse look ordinary even up to six and a half furlongs and her mistake was trying to keep pace with him for the first half of the race".
LIL'COUNTRY BOY completed a three-timer for Simpson on the 10-race programme as he widened his lead over closest rival Shane Ellis (who was winless) in the standings, moving to 54 with Ellis left stranded on 45.
Simpson, who also rode three winners last Wednesday, failed by the narrowest margin to ride a fourth when the hot favourite CLOCK WORK was beaten a nose by fellow debutante PLATINUM GLORY under Charles Hussey in the 2-y-o maiden special weight over 800 metres. Both American juveniles were locked in a tremendous duel over the last furlong with straight specialist Hussey outgunning Simpson on the inside in the final rush.
Hussey rode two winners on the card, the other being 7-2 chance PEACE & LOVE (ran on strongly) in the overnight allowance race over 1700 metres.
Haber had a second winner when his unbeaten 3-y-o colt MEDICAL REPORT duly made it two in a row with Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths riding for many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny. The son of The Medic - Princess Eileen disposed of early leader THE REAL KING entering the straight and kept on strongly to win by 2 1/4 lengths from MOST WANTED (9-1) in a field of seven.
Mid-week racing takes a break this week to pave the way for the St. Leger, the season's final classic, at Caymanas Park next Saturday.
