Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

JACK SPARROW, running as the 4-5 favourite with smart apprentice Andre Martin aboard, upstaged his five opponents to win the Cecil C. Charlton Trophy (high claming) feature over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Turned out in tip-top shape by trainer Rowan Mathie, the five-year-old bay gelding stormed through from early in the straight to win by 2 1/2 lengths from 7-1 chance UNCLE D & ME who was six lengths clear of the 25-1 outsider PRINCESSJACQUELINE in third. JACK BE GOOD (sick) was declared a late non-starter.

JACK SPARROW was outpaced in fifth for the first half of the race as the well-backed second favourite DIGI N' JIGGY (1-1) led comfortably with Oneil Mullings aboard, ahead of UNCLE D & ME and PRINCESSJACQUELINE.

But DIGI N' JIGGY came under pressure from both UNCLE D & ME and JACK SPARROW approaching the home turn, ran wide into the straight, enabling both horses to go by on the inside leaving the quarter pole, with JACK SPARROW quickly moving into overdrive to win with Martin standing tall over the last 100 metres.

Owned by Jockeys' Enterprise and bred by HAM Stables Limited, JACK SPARROW notched his second win from nine starts this season. He had previously won the Frankie Frazer Memorial Cup in overnight allowance company over the same distance on May 19 with Martin aboard.

Still has a chance

Meanwhile, apprentice Javour Simpson, who is still in with a chance of lifting the jockeys' title, did his cause a world of good with three winners on the 10-race programme.

These were 1-2 favourite WE WILL SEE (made all) in fifth race over 1200 metres, BADJEROS ROSE at 2-1 in the seventh over the straight five course and ROYAL KINGDOM at 5-2 in the closing race over 1500 metres.

Simpson, who pushed his season's tally to 41 - five adrift of leading jockey Trevor Simpson and apprentice Omar Walker (45), just failed to make it a four-timer when 9-1 shot BORDER PATROL was caught in the glass by the even-money favourite PAGEE PRINCESS, who was racingfor the first time.

Ridden by Oneil Mullings for new trainer Spencer Chung, the 3-y-o grey filly by Alisios out of Havasac missed the break and was badly outpaced in the 14-strong field as WHILELMINA made most ahead of LANNY GIRL and BORDER PATROL. Bu turning for home in a seemingly hopeless position, PAGEE PRINCESS produced a devastating last furlong run on the inside to catch BORDER PATROL in the final stride, winning by a short head.

Also among the winners was the 2003 Superstakes winner PITTACUS (Paul Ramsay up), who came through in mid-stretch to win the overnight allowance race at odds of 2-1.