Il Caimano (Ameth Robles) getting the better of stable companion Mucho Gusto (Charles Hussey) to win yesterday's $2.25 million Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) at odds of 14-1, at Caymanas Park. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

THE 14-1 outsider IL CAIMANO entered the Derby picture with a bang yesterday at Caymanas Park when he captured the 67th running of the Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup over 2000 ahead of his more fancied stable-companion, MUCHO GUSTO.

Ridden by Panamanian jockey Ameth Robles for Barbadian owner Elias Haloute and trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, IL CAIMANO produced a devastating stretch run to sweep past the battling leaders, 8-5 second favourite MUCHO GUSTO under 'Hall of Fame' jockey Charles Hussey and the 6-5 favourite BLUE MAGIC, with five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson aboard, to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

MUCHO GUSTO, who shouldered top weight of 57kg, was 2 1/2 length clear of the Philip Feanny-trained BLUE MAGIC in third. NATURALLY ROYAL, who made the early running, finished fourth at odds of 6-1, with the Oaks' runner-up, GRACE MARIE, in fifth.

Late non-starters

MY TRAIN and ACCOMPONG were declared late non-starters, reducing the field to 10.

It was NATURALLY ROYAL who made the early running from SIR KANJABIHARI, but BLUE MAGIC who raced close up from early was pushed through leaving the six-furlong point.

He turned for home under pressure from MUCHO GUSTO, who was never far off the pace, an responding to a bustling ride from Simpson down on the rails to hold MUCHO GUSTO at bay approaching the distance, became leg-weary leaving the furlong pole. But no sooner had he given way to the pesky MUCHO GUSTO midway through the last furlong, along came IL CAIMANO (outpaced) with a terrific burst of speed on the outside to win going away.

IL CAIMANO, who could only manage seventh to RUM TALK in the April 7 2000 Guineas after missing the break, chalked up his fourth win from eight career starts and pushed his stakes earnings to just over $2 million.

Bred by the HAM Stables Limited, IL CAIMANO, who carried 56kg yesterday, is a bay colt by Royal Minister out of Needles Last. Trainer Nunes was a bit surprised that the lesser fancied of his two horses proved better on the day.

Instructed jockey

"I expected him to finish in the first three after all. I instructed the jockey to wait off the pace and produce him in the straight," Nunes said.

"I believes he stays better than Mucho Gusto and am delighted to have saddled the first two past the post," said Nunes, who was posting his second Governor's Cup winner following TERREMOTO in 1998. TERREMOTO, who was also owned by Haloute, went on to win the Derby that year.

On a day when star apprentice Omar Walker rode four winners and champion trainer Wayne DaCosta saddled three, CLOCK WORK (5-2) with Walker riding for DaCosta, made all convincingly to win the 11th running of the Lotto Sprint Trophy (graded stakes) over 1100 metres ahead of the 6-5 favourite MUSICAL MAESTRO and RAMPAGE.

DaCosta's RUN ALDEENO was an impressive winner of the valuable War Zone Sprint Trophy for native bred three-year-olds over 1100 metres, while the Feanny-trained SUPER DAVE won the season's first two-year-old race for the Lotto Dash Trophy over 600 metres straight with Ian Spence aboard.

Although overshadowed by Walker, jockey Larris Allen rode three winners on the mammoth 13-race programme, including 12-1 outsider KING AL in the Lotto Championship Trophy (claiming $170,000) over 1200 metres.