LADY T, with jockey Ian Spence, going into the winners' enclosure at Caymanas Park after her decisive win in the Jamaica Oaks over 2000 metres on Saturday, April 21. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Few jockeys get a second chance at age 41, but Ian Spence is grasping his with both hands.

Popularly called 'Dolly Baby', Spence will long remember the past month, thanks to his unexpected classic double aboard the Dwight Chen-trained filly LADY T in the Jamaica Licensed Bookmakers 1000 Guineas and the Jamaica Oaks on April 7 and 21, respectively.

Running at gigantic odds of 71-1, LADY T scored a shock victory in the fillies Guineas. And she proved that this was no fluke by landing the mile and quarter Oaks as the 5-2 second favourite.

Although quietly getting among the winners since his return to race riding at Caymanas Park in early 2005, Spence feels that his recent back-to-back classic wins aboard LADY T has put him back on the map, to some extent.

"True, this will go a far way in re-establishing myself as a top jockey at Caymanas Park, but I am still not satisfied," he confessed.

"I need to get more rides if I hope to take it to another level. I won't be satisfied until I take up a permanent position in the top 10 and I'm working hard to achieve this.

"Right now I'm grateful to top trainers like Philip Feanny and Dwight Chen and others like Burt Tomlinson and Paul Smith for putting their faith in me. But I still need to ride for some of the bigger stables from time to time.

"In this regard I've been doing what what is necessary ... working horses at exercise for a number of trainers on a daily basis and ensuring that I keep very fit in order to stabilise by weight," explained 'Dolly Baby' who turns 42 on July 6.

Difficult to re-establish

Having returned to the island in 2005 following a 16-year stint on the North American circuit, Spence found it difficult to re-establish himself at Caymanas Park as getting 'live' rides was by no means easy.

Still, he persevered and with his then agent 'Fender' doing the leg work, was able to ride five winners in 2005, beginning with the grey mare RENEE'S STAR who won back-to-back races for him in mid-year.

He followed up with HIGH TOWER, QGP and THE MAGICIAN, then last year improved his tally to nine, thanks to dual wins aboard WHITE DIAMOND, EASTERN LIGHT and SHIVOYNE. He also won aboard the promising two-year-old colt BLUE MAGIC, JET BLASTER and MAMA'S GIRL from a handful of rides.

This year, working in tandem with top notch jockeys' agent Derrick "Fireball" Campbell, Spence has ridden six winners from only 39 rides. These have come aboard the Burt Tomlinson-trained SHIVOYNE (again), SECRET HIDEAWAY, TRIPLE ACCOUNT, WHITE DIAMOND and of course, LADY T.

Given his success with LADY T Spence, who looks to have a sure winner in the Chen-trained classic aspirant CHIPONYOURSHOULDER in tomorrrow's seventh race, hopes he will remain injury-free in an effort to get among the winners with greater regularity.

He rode for the first time in early 1980 while apprenticed to veteran trainer Ivanhoe 'Skit' Williams, but created some record of sorts by getting what must be the worst start in local racing.

His first winner, BLACK JACK, for trainer Jose Pinchin, was disqualified. So was his second STARS WARS and also his third EXCELLENCE. He finally opened his account aboard DION'S PET and to date has ridden 102 winners locally, including his first classic winner, THE VICEROY in 1989, for Feanny in the 2000 Guineas when stable-jockey Winston Griffiths refused the ride for PRINCE MIKE.

Laments his near miss

To this day, however, Spence laments his near miss aboard the Richie Phillips-trained STATOR in the 1984 Derby when beaten in a driving finish by the Emilio 'Bimbo' Rodriquez-ridden filly, THORNBIRD.

"I was very unlucky in that race," he recalls. "Bimbo used his experience to tilt out my horse early in the straight and he stumbled approaching the furlong pole ... and this cost him the race," added Spence, who has ridden scores of winners on the North American circuit, mostly at Thistledown in Cleveland, Ohio.

- Orville Clarke