Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
JUST SOME THOUGHTS is eased down by leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths at the finish of yesterday's Caymanas Park feature race for the Frankie Frazer Memorial Cup over 1300 metres. - - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER THE TALENTED American-bred three-year-old colt JUST SOME THOUGHTS confirmed his class at Caymanas Park yesterday with a decisive
victory in the Frankie Frazer Memorial Cup over 1300 metres for overnight allowance horses.
Installed an even-money favourite with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths riding for owner Orien Tingle
and second generation trainer Glenville 'Foody' Morrissey, JUST SOME THOUGHTS came through on the rails a furlong out to win by 1 1/2 lengths (eased) from the fast-finishing 9-2 chance HEARTOFAMAVERICK (Charles Hussey up).
HEARTOFAMAVERICK got up in the nick of time to claim second from the 9-5 second favourite PITTACUS, the 2003 Superstakes winner failing in his bid to give jockey Brian Harding, owner Elias Haloute and trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes their third winner on the card.
LEAD STOLEN
It was in fact PITTACUS, reporting from an eight-month absence, who led from the outside post position but as they sorted themselves out, JUST SOME THOUGHTS came down quickly into second on the rails, closely followed by LADY SHAKEERA.
The order remained the same
for the first half of the race, PITTACUS leading by a length from JUST SOME THOUGHTS with hat-trick seeker MINISTER-OFFINANCE (7-1) making a sharp move on the outside passing the 600-metre pole after missing the break.
But JUST SOME THOUGHTS was apparently biding his time on the inside and getting the rail run into the straight, joined PITTACUS in a flash. A neck and neck
duel ensued before JUST
SOME THOUGHTS gained the ascendancy early in the last furlong, moving away over the final 100 metres to win much easier than the official margin indicated.
HEARTOFAMAVERICK, who was outpaced a bit in fifth, finished with a late flurry but only in time to snatch second in the field of nine. MEDICAL REPORT bolted minus jockey Ian Spence prior to the start and was declared a late non-starter.
This was JUST SOME THOUGHTS second consecutive win and his third from seven starts locally. He had previously won over 1100 metres on April 9, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:05.3 in restricted allowance company. But despite stepping up in class with top weight of 57kg yesterday, he made short work of overnight allowance company and the sky's now the limit, according to one of his connections.
"He's going from strength to strength now and this horse should put 'Foody' on the map before long. We really have high hopes for him".
Meanwhile, the three other trophy races on the 11-race programme were won by ANCIENT SOUL (5-1), who at last released her maiden certificate in the Meadowvale Citizens Association Trophy maiden special race over 1200 metres, STEADIESHA (7-2) in the Portmore Community Trophy race over 1100 metres (non winners of two) and the grey RENEE'S STAR (7-1) who outfinished the front running 6-5 favourite LADY SHALIMAR in the Roderick 'Pilot' Francis Trophy Mem. ($140,000 claiming) over 1200 metres with apprentice Patrick Henry Jr. aboard.
FACILE VICTORY
ANCIENT SOUL, who went wire to wire for a facile victory, was ridden by former champion jockey Wesley Henry for
trainer Garrett Arscott, while STEADIESHA, who came through on the outside early in the straight, was piloted by bang in form champion apprentice Paul 'Country' Francis for trainer Jackson Hong.
Significantly, both the Portmore Community Trophy and Meadowvale Citizens Association Trophy races were put on by CTL to commemorate Portmore Week. Portmore's Mayor George Lee was on had to present the Portmore Community Trophy to the connections of STEADEISHA.
Francis (Show N' Tell, Steadeisha) and Henry (Ancient Soul, Dance Dixie) rode two winners each, as did Harding (The Minister, Ad Infinitum), 'Fanna' Grifffiths (Miss Chestnut, Just Some Thoughts) and Patrick Henry Jr .(Natural Selector at 9-1 and Renee's Star).
THE MINISTER (6-1) surprisingly made all in the opening 1100-metre race (open allowance), humbling the red hot favourite FORMALLY GOLD in winning in the smart time of 1:05.3. .
