Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
JOCKEY CHARLES Hussey highlighted yesterday's midweek meet at Caymanas Park with three winners including the 1-2 favourite CLOCK WORK in the open allowance feature over 1200 metres.
The four-time champion jockey, who last year was not only inducted into racing's Hall of Fame but received a national honour (O.D.) as well, also won the first two races aboard the 8-1 shot BLACK RIVER and 6-5 favourite ROYAL CHRIS respectively, both for his brother Percy (trainer) and his mom, Ruth (owner).
After ticking off the first double in hard-fought contests, both horses winning in a driving finish, Hussey had a fairly easy passage aboard the down in class CLOCK WORK for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, who co-owns the American bred 4-y-o colt with Winston Kong.
It was the speedy DOUBLE BOW (8-5) under Oneil Mullings who led narrowly from CLOCK WORK and PRECOCIOUS MISS D in the small field. Both passed the half mile almost heads on before Hussey sent CLOCK WORK into the lead approaching the 600-metre pole.
CLOCK WORK turned for home a clear leader, then coasted home by 6 1/4 lengths from the stable companions PRECOCIOUS MISS D and UNTOUCHABLE, with DOUBLE BOW fading into fourth on a wet surface caused by mid-afternoon showers.
The much improved three-year-old filly, KYSHA BABY, was declared a late non-starter, reducing the field to five. Her trainer, Gary Subratie said she developed a temperature on Tuesday night and had to be withdrawn.
Apprentices shine
While Hussey emerged the day's top rider, pushing his season's tally to 56 to hold down fourth place in the standings (16 behind the leader Brian Harding), the apprentices were not to be outdone as they won four of the nine races aboard outsiders.
Carlton Malcolm, who is apprenticed to Trainers' Association President Vin Edwards, and Omar Walker rode two winners each.
Malcolm, popularly called 'Little Big Man', scored back-to-back 15-1 wins aboard SEGA for trainer Steadman Curtis in the fourth race over 1200 metres and SIMPLEXITY for trainer Robert Darby Sr. in the fifth over the straight five course, the vastly improved grey filly making all convincingly to record her second consecutive win over the course.
Walker, on the other hand, won aboard 9-1 chance DR. SOCRATES (running on strongly) for trainer Dwight Chen over the straight and followed up with 5-1 shot JELEN'S CHOICE for trainer Phillip Elliott in the sixth.
Significantly, SEGA and JELEN'S CHOICE were chance rides for Malcolm and Walker, both replacing their ailing fellow apprentice Andre Martin aboard both horses.
