Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

IL CAIMANO sweeps past long-time leader FIRE TRAIN (partly hidden) in the closing stages to win the third race over 1200 metres for native bred two-year-olds at Caymanas Park, yesterday. A winning favourite at 3-5, IL CAIMANO was one of four winners for champion jockey Brian Harding. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Leading jockey Brian Harding made a decisive move in a bid to retain the jockeys' title, when he booted home four winners at Caymanas Park yesterday to beat arch-rival Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry into near submission.

Harding (90) started the day four ahead of Henry and although the momentum was with the latter coming into the meet, the seven-time Trinidadian champion wasted no time in asserting his authority, winning aboard his first three rides on the card.

These were the Harry Jaghai-trained LADY ATWAREE, a 6-5 favourite in the first race, 3-5 favourite IL CAIMANO for his guv'nor, trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes in the third for native bred two-year-olds, DON DON at 5-2 for trainer Dwight Chen in the fourth for native bred three-year-olds and 3-5 favourite ESTOY LISTO, again for Nunes in the sixth race (high claiming) over the straight five course.

While having an easy passage aboard DON DON in the round-five race, leading home Henry's mount DEVLISH ISHA (made most), Harding had to dig deep in order to win with the others.

The grey LADY ATWAREE, running on strongly leaving the furlong pole, squeezed home by a short head from the front running GENUINE GOLD in a tremendous head bob, while the late-kicking IL CAIMANO and ESTOY LISTO also came late to win their respective races.

Pulled back a winner

Having unleashed four unanswered winners in the first six races, Harding quickly raced into an eight-length lead. But it wasn't until the final race that Henry was able to pull back a winner, booting home the 6-5 favourite CHING SING in a driving finish from 6-1 chance REGAL SERENADE.

With only four racedays remaining in 2006, Harding (94) leads Henry (87) by seven winners and it could be all over bar the shouting. Harding had little to say.

"This was a good day for me and I will continue to work hard to the end. I cannot take anything for granted even at this stage and my aim is not only to win the championship, but to ride in excess of 100 winners."

Last year Harding won his first title locally with 109 winners.

Meanwhile, OH NO GRANDPA, running at odds of 7-2 with Paul Francis riding for trainer Desmond Shand, won the Paul Newman Memorial Trophy (claiming $350,000 - $320,000) over 1600 metres in a driving finish from TOBAGO (12-1) and ALL FIRED UP (8-1).

The 3-1 chance HEY TRAIN, ridden by hot apprentice Carlton Malcolm for his apprentice master Vin Edwards and wife Monica, ran on strongly in the closing stages to pip Henry's mount CHIEF COUNCILLOR (5-2) by a short head in the Joseph Armond Memorial Cup co-feature over the circular nine course.