- RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ALLIEDFORCE, a chance ride for the former champion jockey Percy Williams, wins the 66th running of the $2 million Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup at Caymanas Park yesterday. The Noel Ennevor-trained 3-y-o colt won the prestigious 2,000-metre race by 1 1/2 lengths at odds of 6-1.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE 2000 Guineas runner-up ALLIEDFORCE sent his stocks soaring for the June 3 Digicel Jamaica Derby when outstaying rivals to win the 66th running of the Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup over 2000 metres in decisive fashion at Caymanas Park yesterday.
In the process, ALLIEDFORCE humbled his April 1 Guineas conqueror RAMPAGE who, despite being backed as if defeat was out of the question as the 3-5 favourite with leading jockey Charles Hussey riding under top weight of 57kg, could only mange fourth in a field of 13 native-bred three-year-olds.
ALLIEDFORCE, who many 'experts' felt was the obvious alternative to the Richard Azan-trained RAMPAGE, based on their Guineas performances, was allowed to win at the very generous odds of 6-1.
Significantly, the chestnut colt from the stables of Noel Ennevor was a chance ride for former champion jockey Percy Williams, replacing top-five jockey Oneil Mullings who was involved in a spill in the fourth race and was unable to ride for the remainder of the day.
BOLTED
Mullings' mount, OSAKA, bolted sharply to the left in the region of the half mile, crashing through the rails and running loose on the infield. Mullings fell heavily and, although escaping serious injury, suffered cuts and bruises and had to be sidelined.
Williams, given his wealth of experience, gave ALLIEDFORCE a copybook ride, holding him just off the early pace as RAMPAGE vied for the lead with the outsiders AITCHEMESBEAGLE and JCD SLEW for the first half of the race.
ALLIEDFORCE advanced nicely on the rails to take on RAMPAGE from the half mile, soon pointed in the lead and after turning for home just ahead of RAMPAGE with RANSOM MAN (looming on the inside), stayed on well towards the outside to beat RANSOM MAN (17-1) under Larris Allen by 1 1/2 lengths, as HIDALGO (7-1), with champion jockey Brian Harding up, closed late to pip a tiring RAMPAGE for third.
ALLIEDFORCE is owned by Donald Williams and bred by the HAM Stables Limited. Relatively lightly raced, the colt by Market Rally out of the Element mare Royal Colours notched his fourth win from only five career starts and was administered Lasix for the first time.
MADE WINNING MOVE
Williams, champion jockey in 1994, thanked his lucky stars.
"I was lucky to get the ride," he said. "I've never ridden this horse before, but I followed the trainer's instructions to the letter and made my winning move at the half mile. He responded when the horse on the inside (Ranson Man) starting to loom approaching the distance and won much easier than the official margin indicated," he said.
Ennevor, who felt ALLIEDFORCE was weighted to win, has indicated that leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths will ride him in the Derby.
On a day when Dane Nelson (who starts a three-day suspension) took the riding honours with three winners, the Wayne DaCosta-trained FORMALLY GOLD (7-2) with Nelson aboard, lowered the colours of hot favourite and top weight QUIET STRENGTH in the $1 million Lotto Sprint (graded stakes), while the Lotto Dash for native bred two-year-olds went to the DaCosta-trained debutante SHAKE YOUR BOOTY (made all) with Nelson again in the saddle.
