Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTITLE-CHASING JOCKEYS Trevor Simpson and Brian Harding dominated the action at Caymanas Park yesterday, winning seven of the 10 races on the Owners' Association Day programme.
Harding, still celebrating Trinidad and Tobago's historic win over Bahrain last Wednesday to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, finished on top with four winners to Simpson's three, moving to 81 - only three behind the reigning champion.
Harding, a seven-time Trinidadian champion, won aboard 1-2 favourite VAMANOS in the second race, Division I of the Sunnyside Stakes for two-year-old fillies over 1100 metres, stable-companion QUERIDA at 2-1 in the Flossie McNeill Memorial Cup over 1200 metres, LA REINA at 1-1 in the seventh race over the straight five course and DIAMOND KING at 2-1 in the closing straight five race to gain bragging rights going into Wednesday's mid-week meet.
Simpson, bidding for a sixth title, clawed his way back through sheer determination with wins aboard KEELER at 5-1 in the third, PURE JUSTICE at 2-1 in the sixth and 8-5 favourite WICKY WACKY in the overnight allowance feature for the Owners' Association Trophy over 2000 metres.
EASY VICTORY
But with the scores level on 3-3 going into the 10th and final race, Harding, who celebrated his 42nd birthday last Wednesday, once more gained the ascendancy with an easy victory aboard the Harry Jaghai-trained DIAMOND KING in the nightpan.
Three of Harding's winners are trained by his gu'vnor, Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, for Barbadian owner Elias Haloute.
They were VAMANOS, QUERIDA and the progressive 3-y-o filly LA REINA who won in a driving finish from Simpson's mount, MUSICAL MAESTRO (4-5 favourite), then had to survive a Stewards' Inquiry for crossing him early in the last furlong.
LA REINA, who disputed the lead from the unfavourable number one post position after a furlong, covered the distance in the smart time of 58.4.
WICKY WACKY, meanwhile, raced prominently as UNTOUCHABLE (5-1) made most ahead of DIGI N' JIGGY (10-1) who went through leaving the half mile. But Simpson quickly sent WICKY WACKY in chase and she went by the leader entering the straight to win by three-quarters of a length from the fast-finishing 5-2 chance WIMBLEDON with Harding's mount, UNLEADED (5-2), finishing a close third in the 10-horse field.
A four-year-old chestnut filly by Law Of The Sea out of Miss John, WICKY WACKY is owned by Ping Pong Stables, bred by HAM Stables and trained by outgoing champion Philip Feanny.
