Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
KEELER, RUNNING at odds of 8-1 with champion jockey Trevor Simpson aboard, powered home in a driving finish from her front-running stable-companion NATURAL PRINCE in yesterday's Caymanas Park co-feature for the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association of Jamaica Trophy over 1400 metres for three-year-olds and up.
Despite being worst drawn at post position one in the 10-horse field (non winners of two), the bay filly was ridden in earnest to hold a prominent position from soon after the start as NATURAL PRINCE (7-1) led at a fast clip from ROBICON (9-2) and the 9-5 favourite MOST WANTED.
THREE LENGTHS CLEAR
NATURAL PRINCE, the mount of two-time champion jockey Joe Buchanan, turned for home three lengths clear of ROBICON and MOST WANTED disputing second, and was still going well passing the furlong pole at which stage KEELER began to loom on the outside and MOST WANTED on the inside.
In the end, however, KEELER responded to a bustling ride from 'Slicer' Simpson, the 3-y-o daughter of Royal Minister out of the 1994 Oaks winner Habitual getting up in the nick of time to win by a neck in a thrilling finish.
MOST WANTED, the mount of top apprentice Paul Francis, failed to carry through his effort when right there on the inner midway through the last furlong and finished another three-quarter lengths third, while highly fancied TOBAGO (2-1) stayed on strongly under four-time champion Charles Hussey to finish a close-up fourth.
DOUBLES AS BREEDER
Both the winner and runner-up were saddled by champion trainer Wayne DaCosta. KEELER, however, is owned jointly by Winston Kong and Pat Rousseau who doubles as breeder with Mayer Matalon.
Kong, who as recent as July 20 had a winner in the Jose Pinchin-trained READY PROSPECT at Calder racetrack in Florida, attributed KEELER's victory to the prowess of Simpson in the saddle.
"The trip was a trifle short for her and I was a bit concerned about the inside draw," he said. "How-ever, Simpson rode a magnificent race to keep her in a prominent position from early.
BEST JOCKEY IN A TIGHT FINISH
"Leaving the furlong pole, NATURAL PRINCE looked likely to hold on, but Simpson again showed why he is the best jockey in a tight finish to gain the ascendancy well inside the last furlong.
"KEELER is no world beater. But she's a nice, well-bred filly who has the potential to win decent races over middle and longer distances", he concluded.
This was KEELER's second win from nine career starts, having opened her account over the circular nine course on April 12.
Earlier in the afternoon, COLTRANE (Shane Ellis up) stamped himself as the best native bred two-year-old seen out so far this season when he crushed his four opponents in winning the Keeling Memorial Cup over 1100 metres by the resounding margin of 17 1/2 lengths, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:06.1.
WIDEST MARGINS
Close up from early, COLTRANE assumed the lead from the previously unbeaten SUPERSONIC after 400 metres and proceeded to win by one of the widest margins seen in a sprint race at Caymanas Park in years.
Owned and trained by Richard Azan, the impressive bay colt by Royal Minister out of the French Champagne mare Ebony Fire, chalked up his third consecutive win from four starts. He is on course for next Saturday's valuable Supreme Feeds Trophy race sponsored by the Jamaica Livestock Association.
Ellis (Coltrane, Mr. N.P.S.) and Simpson (Keeler, Mystic River) shared the riding honours with two winners each, Simpson pushing his season's tally to 75 - 16 clear of closest rival Ellis in the championship race.
The 10-race programme produced a stunning upset in the sixth race where the 51-1 outsider SECRET GLORY came through in the last furlong to win in a driving finish from another outsider, VIENTO at 31-1.
