Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterMEDICAL REPORT, offering odds of 5-2 with in-form Paul 'Country' Francis aboard, outfinished 8-5 favourite THUNDER SQUAD to win the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race for the Frankie Frazer Memorial Cup over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Owned by Michael Steele and trained by veteran Noel Ennevor, who will run his highly regarded 3-y-o colt ALLIEDFORCE in next Saturday's Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup, MEDICAL REPORT was driven out to win by 1 1/4 lengths from THUNDER SQUAD under leading jockey Charles Hussey.
BREATHING DOWN HIS NECK
THUNDER SQUAD, coming off an easy win at 1400 metres on April 8, attempted to make all in the eight-horse field. He led by a length from Brian Harding's mount DIGI N' JIGGY (7-1) and BATTLEOX on the inside rails passing the half mile, but by the time they galloped towards the home turn, MEDICAL REPORT (prominent) was already breathing down his neck on the outside.
Both swung into the straight on level terms, but although MEDICAL REPORT appeared to be going just a shade better on the outside approaching the distance, Hussey, riding powerfully, kept his mount in the fight to midway through the last furlong where MEDICAL REPORT inched away for a decisive win, covering the distance in the fairly good time of 1:19.4.
BATTLEOX, who straightened a close third on the inside with title-chasing jockey Wesley Henry up, did not find much up the lane and had to settle for third, another 2 3/4 away third.
It was MEDICAL REPORT's second win from six starts this season. Bred by Owen and Solomon Sharpe, the 5-y-o son of The Medic - Princess Ellen had previously scored a 20-1 upset over a mile on January 21.
WORK STOPPAGE
On a day when a section of the tote staff at the track staged a brief work stoppage early in the afternoon in support of a colleague, the 2-1 favourite HAIL THE I romped the closing 1400-metre race for the Gerald Farquharson Memorial Cup (restricted allowance IV) with Henry riding for owner Raphael E. Gordon and trainer Gary Subratie.
The other trophy race for the Clifford Stewart Memorial (claiming $200,000 - $170,000) over 1200 metres provided the evergreen 10-year-old gelding RUCKUS with his second win in the space of seven days.
Installed a 3-2 favourite, RUCKUS with former champion Trevor Simpson again riding for trainer Richie Todd, ran through on the inside approaching the distance for an easy victory.
Simpson (Ruckus, Another Ranking), Henry (Musical Maestro, Hail The I) and Hussey (Blue Marlin at 7-2 and Skyway Express at 9-1) shared the riding honours on the 11-race programme which, similar to last Wednesday, produced a number of upsets, including the two Joes ASK JOE at 27-1 and HI JOE at 14-1.
