RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
MIRACLE MAN (centre), ridden by Allen Maragh, streaks ahead of his rivals to win the prestigious Red Stripe Superstakes crown at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
IN A bold front-running display, Derby and St. Leger winner MIRACLE MAN humbled 4-5 favourite and reigning 'Horse of the Year' DISTINCTLY IRISH to win the 27th running of the $4 million Red Stripe Superstakes in fine style at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Installed a 9-2 third favourite with Florida-based Jamaican jockey Allen 'Bungo John' Maragh riding for popular owner Joseph 'Fudgie' Duany and veteran Hall of Fame trainer Allan 'Billy' Williams, MIRACLE MAN stayed on strongly after turning for home three lengths clear of the Philip Feanny-trained DISTINCTLY IRISH under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths, and highly fancied PITTACUS (the 2003 winner) to beat the former by six lengths in the smart time of 2:04.3 for the mile and quarter trip.
FAILED IN BID
DISTINCTLY IRISH thus failed in his bid to win this prestigious invitational race for the second consecutive year, but all had not been right with him coming into the race.
He was lightly prepared because of joint problems and the trainer had to work feverishly along with a vet in order to straighten him out sufficiently for the race.
His participation was even in doubt up to Thursday evening and, in the circumstances, he ran a brave race to stave off the Derby and St. Leger runner-up AD INFINITUM (5-1, Andrew Ramjet up) by a head for second in a field of 11 native bred three-year-olds and up.
Maragh, who flew in from his base in Florida specifically to ride MIRACLE MAN once again, having piloted him to victory in this year's Derby and St. Leger, said the three-year-old chestnut colt by Law Of The Sea out of Hay ran better than expected.
"He was pulling for the lead from early so I let him run his own race. He was so sharp that I knew they would have their job cut out to get back to him from the top of the lane," Maragh said.
"He responded nicely to the right hand stick to win easily and I see where he ran a pretty fast time as well. This horse has been my pride and joy and I am looking forward to continue my association with him", said Maragh, whose teenage son, Rajkamal, was on hand to receive the winning rider trophy on his behalf.
ELATED MOOD
Duany, on the other hand, was over the moon in winning his first Superstakes.
The elated owner had this to say: "We didn't need a miracle today. We had the right jockey and the horse was prepared to the minute for this one.
"If you look at it, this was a vastly improved performance. Miracle Man had to be driven all out to beat Ad Infinitum in both the Derby and St. Leger. This time he whipped him by six lengths. So what does that mean?
"He came back a different animal and deserves to be voted Horse of the Year ... No horse in Jamaica can stay like him, no horse," emphasised Duany who finished second and third respectively with the 99-1 outsider SATISFIER and I'MSATISFIED (now retired) last year.
MADE THE DIFFERENCE
Williams, who has been training legendary horses like NONE SUCH, RIMSKY and LEGAL LIGHT since the '60s, was also saddling his first Superstakes winner, but had few words.
"The jockey made the difference. I simply told him to ride a good race," said the trainer who refitted his charge with the figure eight for this race.
Meanwhile, Feanny, Griffiths and popular owner Howard Hamilton had better luck with their illustrious campaigner A KING IS BORN who romped the $2 million Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint as the 1-5 favourite.
RED STRIPE MILE
Leading trainer Wayne DaCosta, who saddled three winners on the mammoth 13-race programme, saw his impressive American 3-y-o colt CLOCK WORK make all as the even money favourite (Charles Hussey up) in the Red Stripe Mile for imported horses.
The 18-1 outsider CHRISTMAS GIFT, with U.S.-based Jamaican jockey Andrew Ramgeet riding for veteran trainer Noel Ennevor, produced a devastating stretch run to catch the highly fancied RAMPAGE on the line in the valuable Red Stripe 2-Y-O Breeders Stakes over 1400 furlongs.
Former champion Wesley Henry won the second annual Red Stripe Jockeys' Challenge after winning two of the three select races aboard STORMY SKY and I AM NOT ORDINARY.
