Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
Jockey Ameth Robles and groom Richard Coates celebrate LADY BALLARI'S upset win in the Dr. David 'Jack' Radix feature at Caymanas Park yesterday. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
LADY BALLARI, running at odds of 20-1 with Panamanian jockey Ameth Robles aboard, held off a late challenge from highly fancied SIR CHACHA BABA to win the circular nine feature for the Dr. David 'Jack' Radix Memorial Cup at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Owned and trained by Donovan Raymond, LADY BALLARI won by three-quarter length from the fast-finishing 3-2 second favourite SIR CHACHA BABA under former champion jockey Trevor Simpson in the $160,000 claiming race contested by 12 starters.
Well away from the number 10 post position, LADY BALLARI had a battle royal for the lead with 35-1 outsider FORSETI with former champion jockey Percy Williams astride.
This continued passing the half mile at which stage both had four lengths to spare over MAMA'S GIRL (6-1) chasing, with SIR CHACHA BABA and the marginal 3-2 favourite PATAS DE FUEGO outpaced a bit.
LEFT HAND STICK
LADY BALLARI eventually disposed of FORSETI as they swung in the straight and under a torrid left hand stick from Robles down on the rails, held on grimly to stave off SIR CHACHA BABA who turned for home three lengths third, but came a trifle late.
Best known as a specialist over the straight five course, LADY BALLARI was winning going this far for the first time and recorded her first win since July of last year.
Meanwhile, leading jockey Charles Hussey, who rode five winners on the previous Saturday including SWING BY and RAMPAGE in the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, widened his lead in the standings with three more on the 10-race programme.
These were TWENTY NINE at 8-5 for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta in the opening race for three-year-olds over the straight five course, ROYAL MALICE an 8-5 favourite in the fifth race (claiming $350,000 $340,000) over the straight five, again for DaCosta, and THUNDER SQUAD at 3-1 for his brother Percy and mom Ruth in the seventh race for overnight allowance horses.
SIX CLEAR
As a result, Hussey, a four-time champion, has pushed his season's tally to 27 from only 72 rides which puts him seven clear of the 1997 champion Wesley Henry who failed to ride a winner on the card.
Reigning champion Brian Harding and Simpson had one winner each to be joint fifth on 12 winners. Harding produced the 9-2 chance and Anthony Nunes-trained MYSON with a well-timed run midway the last furlong to win Division II of the overnight allowance race at 1400 metres ahead of the 7-5 favourite SPANISH SECRETS with Allen Maragh astride.
Simpson won the third race aboard 1-2 favourite MONEY DANCER, getting up in the nick of time (rails) to beat Harding's mount SILVER PEN who just failed to make all at 1100 metres. The American 4-y-o filly was saddled by 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny.
