Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

THE AMERICAN-bred 4-y-o filly, SEATTLE'S GIRL turned in an impressive front-running performance at Caymanas Park yesterday to win the open allowance feature for the Nigel B. Nunes Memorial Cup over 1820 metres by two lengths.

Installed an 8-5 favourite with title-chasing jockey Trevor Simpson riding for popular owner Howard Hamilton and trainer Dwight Chen, SEATTLE'S GIRL was ridden to dispute the early lead with the rank outsider JACK BE GOOD (36-1) and highly fancied DON LIMPIO (3-1), with in-form Wesley Henry astride, in a field of seven.

She shook clear of JACK BE GOOD and DON LIMPIO at the halfway stage. And when this year's St. Leger winner ALLIED FORCE (2-1) went in serious chase from the half mile to turn for home a clear second, SEATTLE'S GIRL soon found another gear to leave the issue beyond doubt.

Stayed on strongly

She galloped past the furlong pole some four lengths clear of ALLIED FORCE and stayed on strongly under top weight of 57.0kg to win from the fast-finishing JACK SPARROW, with promising apprentice Jason Simpson aboard.

ALLIED FORCE was caught on the line by highly fancied LA REINA (5-2) under champion jockey Brian Harding in a dead-heat for third.

SEATTLE'S GIRL was turned out in peak of condition by Chen who felt her last effort behind QUIET STRENGTH over 1100 metres (She's On Wheels Trophy) on July 22 when finishing third in graded stakes company held the key to winning this race.

"I though she had the pace to set off in front and the class to withstand anything coming from behind," said Chen, who was quick to add that SEATTLE'S GIRL was unlucky when losing narrowly to DON LIMPIO over 1800 metres on June 10. That day she was carried very wide at the home turn by the runner-up CHADMAN, yet was beaten by less than a length into third place.

Chen had a second winner on the card in 1-5 favourite COMMANDING LIGHT in the opening maiden condition race over 1200 metres. The American 3-y-o filly won by 2 1/4 lengths with Paul Ramsay aboard.

Favourirte

She was one of four favourites to score on the nine-race programme, the others being the Anthony Nunes-trained COMIN TRUE (Harding up) at 4-5 in the third race, GENTLE ON LINE at 3-5 with Henry astride in the fourth and FAITHFUL ROBBIE at evens in the sixth.

Paul Francis (Faithful Robbie, Crayons to Perfume) and Oneil Mullings (Time Of My Life, Snow Prospect) shared the riding honours with two winners each on a day when 12-1 shot ROYAL ENCOUNTER, ridden by veteran jockey David 'Scorcher' McKenzie, provided the lone upset.