- IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
DIESEL, running at odds of 3-1, is driven out by light weight jockey Peter Bryan to win the three-year-old and up overnight allowance race over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. Trained by current champion Philip Feanny who posted two winners on the card, the vastly improved four-year-old gelding was a chance ride for Bryan.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE NATIVE bred four-year-old gelding DIESEL underlined the great strides he has made in recent months with a decisive victory over a trio of American-bred fillies in the three-year-old and up overnight allowance race over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
With the scheduled graded stakes feature race for the Eileen Cliggott Trophy over 1300 metres having to be abandoned due to insufficient declarations, this race moved into the spotlight as the feature on the 10-race programme.
According to CTL's racing secretary Denzil Miller Jr., seven entries were received for the Eileen Cliggott Trophy, but at the overnight stage on Wednesday, only the illustrious campaigner A KING IS BORN stood his ground, forcing the cancellation.
NO RESCHEDULING
Miller added that this race would not be rescheduled for the remainder of 2005 as there was no suitable date on the calendar to facilitate it.
"We have scheduled dates for a few more races confined to top-class horses (graded stakes), including the L.R. 'Bob' Mayall Memorial Cup over 1600 metres to be run in early September. But there is just nowhere on the calendar to put the Cliggott Trophy," Miller said.
Significantly, the race is run on an annual basis in honour of 'Hall of Fame' trainer Mrs. Eileen Cliggott who marked her 88th birthday on August 5. Cliggott, who was once the leading all-time trainer in Jamaica, retired some years ago but is still up and about, despite her advanced age.
She made a rare visit to Caymanas Park on August 6 and two weeks prior to that attended the FEI show jumping event at the Caymanas Polo Club where a trophy was presented in her honour by the Equestrian Federation of Jamaica. She has saddled 976 winners.
Meanwhile, DIESEL (3-1) disputed the early lead with 99-1 outsider STEADIESHA before going through at the half mile in a 12-strong field. However, he was challenged strongly by the 9-5 favourite PRECOCIOUS MISS D and INSATIABLE three wide entering the straight and after a brief duel with the American filly PRECOCIOUS MISS D, found extra in the last furlong to win by 1 1/2 lengths, posting his fifth win from only seven career starts.
In the battle for second, the Gary Subratie-trained American filly SPANISH SECRETS (5-1) finished fast to pip her more fancied stable-companion PRECOCIOUS MISS D for second, while BATTLEOX (lame) was a late non-starter.
CHANCE RIDE
The winner, a four-year-old chestnut gelding by Law Of The Sea out of the Schism mare Psyche, owned by Knockout and bred by Mark Azan, was a chance ride for Peter Bryan, replacing in-form apprentice Kerry-Gayl Robinson who sustained a minor leg injury at the gate in the third race and called it a day.
The programme, which proved difficult for form players, saw upset winners in the Vin Edwards-trained ENCHANTING EYES at 12-1, TIP TOP MACHINE at 8-1, LADY SOLO and YAN YAN STORY, both at 7-1.
After notching a sparkling three-timer last Wednesday, title-chasing jockey Brian Harding drew a blank and was left stranded on 51 winners - only three behind the leader and reigning champion Trevor Simpson who sat out the final day of a two-day suspension for careless riding yesterday.
Simpson will resume riding on Wednesday.
