Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
DIESEL (inside), with Trevor Simpson aboard, holds off BULLET TRAIN (Dane Nelson), to win yesterday's Merry Deal Cup co-feature over the straight five course at Caymanas Park.

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

TITLE-CHASING jockeys Omar Walker and Trevor Simpson distinguished themselves at Caymanas Park yesterday by dominating the 10-race programme with a combined seven winners.

Walker, bidding to become only the third apprentice behind Richard Depass (1970) and Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry (1997) to win the jockeys' championship in his first full season, rode four winners to increase his season's tally at the top of the standings to 77.

That's 13 clear of five-time champion Simpson who replied with three winners to end the day on 64.

Walker, 24, drew first blood with a runaway victory aboard 2-5 favourite TOKEN (made all) for trainer Tensang Chung in the second race for maiden four-year-olds and up over 1400 metres.

Strong reply

Simpson, however, replied strongly in the next race aboard the 11-1 outsider RUMOUR HAS IT for owner/trainer Neive Graham over 1200 metres, the three-year-old colt coming with a tremendous last furlong run to catch tearaway leader PERFECT STEP on the line, leaving Walker aboard the favourite NATURALLY ROYAL in third.

Walker then won the fourth aboard 9-2 chance LADY SUHAAFRAAT for trainer Howard Jaghai in a driving finish from the Charles Hussey-ridden MAYFLOWER, followed up in the fifth for native bred two-year-olds with the Wayne DaCosta-trained JOINT EFFORT at 9-1 over 1100 metres, then went 15 clear of Simpson after booting home 3-1 shot FIRE D TRAINER for trainer Dennis Lee in the eighth race over the straight for the Grooms' Association Trophy (claiming $315,000 - $285), this in a driving finish from 7-1 chance BACK POCKET.

But Simpson was not perturbed, coming back to win the last two races aboard the 3-1 chance DIESEL and 5-2 favourite HARMONICS, both in driving finishes on another wet day at Caymanas Park.

Owned by G.M.C. and trained by Glenville 'Foody' Morrissey, DIESEL, a six-year-old chestnut gelding who was formerly trained by 14-time champion Philip Feanny, outfinished the free-running favourite BULLET TRAIN in the closing stages to win by three quarters of a length in a field of eight.

DaCosta emerged the day's most successful trainer with two winners in JOINT EFFORT, who is co-owned by Minister of National Security Derrick Smith and his son Derrick Jr., and 3-5 favourite AITCHEMESBEAGLE in the opening race over 1820 metres for high claimers.

Midweek racing takes a break on Wednesday to pave the way for the big Megafone Superday race meet next Saturday.