Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
ROYAL IMAGE, one of four winners for leading jockey Shane Ellis, turned in an awesome display at Caymanas Park yesterday to win the 15th running of the Sir Howard Stakes over 1200 metres for three-year-old colts and geldings by the resounding margin of 15 lengths.
Ellis was simply over the moon by the performance of the lightly raced but talented colt from the stables of Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, calling him the real deal.
"Prior to this performance they were saying The Real Stream is the real deal. But trust me, this horse is a murderer," said Ellis.
"He can go in front or sit off the pace if the situation demands. When he ran second to Mr Skill as a two-year-old last December, I told the trainer this is the horse I'm going to win all the classics on.
"I'm not afraid of The Real Stream or Commander Zero. Yes, they are talented three-year-olds, but Royal Image is very versatile and I have every confidence in him," said the 34-year-old jockey, son of three-time '60s champion Winston 'Nero' Ellis.
It was expected that the Noel Ennevor-trained colt HOMBRE, highly fancied at 3-2, would have provided stiff opposition for 3-5 favourite ROYAL IMAGE in the six-horse field. But after leading in the early stages under veteran jockey David 'Scorcher' McKenzie, HOMBRE was brushed aside by ROYAL IMAGE at the halfway stage and thereafter it was a matter of how far.
Although eased down by Ellis in the last furlong, ROYAL IMAGE cantered home by 15 lengths from HOMBRE, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:12.1 behind splits of 23.0 and 46.1 for the half mile.
Bay colt
ROYAL IMAGE, who might return for the Prince Consort Guineas Trial Stakes over 1400 metres on March 15 en route to the April 5 2000 Guineas, is a bay colt by Image Maker out of the 1993 Harry Jackson Memorial Cup winner Royal Grind. He is owned by Bar-bados-based Elias Haloute and bred by Argyll Farms.
Earlier in the afternoon, the 3-1 second favourite ALSAFRA made all to win the Hot Line Stakes also over 1200 metres for native-bred three-year-old fillies.
Ridden by in-form Dane Nelson for trainer Fitznahum Williams, the chestnut filly by Legal Process out of the 2007 champion broodmare Tee Gee Vee, bred by Henry Jaghai, won by 3 1/4 lengths from the howling 3-5 favourite LADY LIZ (Ellis up), who recovered from a sluggish start to chase the winner, in a field of seven. ALSAFRA is co-owned by Sherman Clachar and Norman Gordon. In addition to ROYAL IMAGE, Ellis won aboard the 11-1 outsider RAMPAGE for owner/trainer Richard Azan in the Grade One Eros Trophy over 1400 metres, as well as odds-on favourite SMOOTH DUDE in the opening race over 1600 metres and the 2003 Superstakes winner PITTACUS (2-1) in the sixth race for (overnight allowance) over 1820 metres for the Omar Walker Trophy in honour of the champion jockey.
Nunes saddled three winners in ROYAL IMAGE, SMOOTH DUDE and PITTACUS.
As a result of yesterday's windfall, Ellis, who started the day locked on 17 wins with Walker and Nelson, is again the sole leader in the standings with 21 winners.
RAMPAGE and ROYAL PEARL at 35-1 in the second race for maiden five-year-olds and up provided the day's upsets.
