Simpson
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE VASTLY improved four-year-old gelding JACK DE PRINCE overcame a slow start to win yesterday's Caymanas Park open allowance feature for the Melvin 'Babu' Chin Memorial Trophy over 1200 metres in fine style.
One of three winners for returning champion jockey Trevor Simpson (his third consecutive triple) and champion trainer Wayne DaCosta on the 11-race programme, JACK DE PRINCE is on course for the November 13 Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint, a race in which he finished a close third to I'MSATISFIED last year.
After losing six lengths when walking out of the starting gate in the six-horse field, JACK DE PRINCE (3-5 fav) seemingly had his job cut out when badly outpaced approaching the half mile, as the 2002 winner RAKKADASH (5-2) under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths led narrowly from the winner's lesser stable-companion CRUCIAL POINT (26-1) and COURT CASE (3-1) close up.
Having relegated RAKKA-DASH to third leaving the half mile, CRUCIAL POINT turned for home only marginally ahead of COURT CASE. However, at this stage, JACK DE PRINCE, who had taken his own sweet time to recover, had moved within striking distance. Getting into top gear leaving the furlong pole, he ran through widest of all for an emphatic victory.
A bay gelding by Pat N Jack out of the Texas Prospector mare Zuki Princess, JACK DE PRINCE is co-owned by DaCosta, Dr. Francis Barnett and Edison Chai and bred by Chai and Robert Christopher Girvan. He has won four races from nine starts this season and stakes of $1.2 million.
DaCosta, who also posted the fleet-footed JACK BE GOOD up to win the first race for two-year-olds in post-to-post fashion and also the three-year-old gelding RAWHIDE KID (both with Simpson up) in the fourth over the straight course, is looking forward to the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint over 1200 metres with much anticipation.
RAPID IMPROVEMENT
"Jack De Prince is at a stage of rapid improvement and I am expecting him to give a good account of himself against A King Is Born," said the four-time champion trainer. "He is from a breeding line that comes on late and you would recall Zuki King who went from 'F' class to win in 'A1' company.
"His only problem is that he gives away lengths at the start and if he does so in the sprint, it would be difficult for him to win," added DaCosta who had high praise for Simpson who rode a patience race by gradually making up the lost ground.
On a day which proved difficult for form players, JACK THE PRINCE was the only favourite to oblige: most of them, such as ESTOY LISTO, MAGIC DRAGON, LONG LONG JOURNEY, KEYSER SOZE, AIR & DARE and CRUCIAL TIMES finishing well beaten.
There was a major upset in the closing straight five race where the 50-1 outsider BLACKMOUTH, ridden by apprentice Andrew Nunes for trainer Richie Todd, stormed through in the closing stages to beat long-time leader LA RUDE in a field of 14.
