Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

WALKER

CHAMPION JOCKEY Omar Walker rode three winners at Caymanas Park yesterday to join co-leaders Shane Ellis and Dane Nelson at the top of the jockeys' standings with 17 winners.

Walker, a third-season apprentice whose 2kg claming allowance is due to end on May 12, booted home 2-1 chance SIR KHAN in the opening race over 1820 metres, PRINCESS LORNA, also at 2-1 in the third, and 8-5 second favourite ABOUNDING GRACE who went wire to wire in the sixth race for $170,000 claimers over the round five course.

Nelson, who rode a sparkling triple on Saturday, including 25-1 outsider PASSA PASSA in the $1 million King's Plate feature, failed to ride a winner on the midweek card, while Shane Ellis, who has led the standings for most of the way before being joined by Nelson last Saturday, did not ride yesterday, having left the island from Sunday for Canada on personal business. He is due to return today in time for Saturday's race meet featuring the Hot Line and Sir Howard Stakes.

First career win

SIR KHAN, stepping down from overnight allowance company to high claiming, powered home by 10 1/2 lengths from I AM PAID FOR and the 4-5 favourite UNLEADED to give second generation trainer Ian Parsard his first career win.

Parsard, a director of Caymanas Track Limited (CTL), was not present at the track to saddle SIR KHAN as he was engaged in a meeting in his capacity as vice president of finance for the Jamaica Broilers Group. In his absence SIR KHAN was saddled by his father, Harry Parsard.

Although enjoying a fruitful day, Walker failed in his bid to win the overnight allowance feature for the Wayne DaCosta Trophy aboard 6-5 favourite SKYWAY EXPRESS.

The American 5-y-o gelding was beaten by 3-1 second favourite CRUCIAL POINT in the straight five feature contested by eight starters.

One of two winners for jockey Clive Lynch and owner/trainer Anthony Ferguson, CRUCIAL POINT disputed the lead with SKYWAY EXPRESS and ALNASKRA coming on to the main track before lengthening his strides in the latter stages to beat SKYWAY EXPRESS by 1 1/2 lengths in the smart time of 57.3.

Lynch had a second winner on the card in the front-running SMOOTHABILITY (2-1) in the 1500-metre race for native and imported three-year-olds, while Richie Mitchell also rode two winners in MINISTEROFJUSTICE (7-5) and WE WILL SEE (3-1) in the nightpan.

SMOOTHABILITY and CRUCIAL POINT are owned and trained by Ferguson who, like Ian Parsard, started training in July of last year after successfully completing the JRC course for assistant trainers.