Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

CHAMPION JOCKEY Omar Walker and former champion Trevor Simpson shared the riding honours with four winners each at Caymanas Park yesterday, their efforts resulting in the $4.7 million Pick-9 being caught.

Walker, the season's leading rider, drew first blood thanks to a post-to-post victory aboard 1-4 favourite CALL OF THE WILD for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta in the season's first two-year-old race, the Starters' Trophy over 400 metres straight.

CALL OF THE WILD, who is an attractive chestnut filly by Burning Marque out of Call Collect, co-owned by Francis Barnett and Elizabeth DaCosta and bred by Carl Anderson, won by a length from fancied stable-companion THREE QUEENS in a field of six juveniles.

Walker proceeded to win the fifth race aboard the 7-5 favourite TOUCHDOWN (made all) and followed up with a runaway victory aboard evens favourite LITTLERICHBOY in the sixth and closed the programme with the DaCosta-trained 1-2 favourite CHADMAN, both over the circular nine course.

The 25-year-old apprentice thus pushed his season's tally to 49 - 10 clear of closest rivals Dane Ellis (on suspension) and Shane Ellis, who failed to ride a winner on the card.

Served notice

Simpson, meanwhile, served notice that he is still a force to be reckoned with by winning the second race over 1200 metres aboard 6-5 favourite THANKSWITHASMILE, the Owen Sharpe-trained filly just surviving a late run from the Walker-ridden RIGGED TO WIN (3-2).

He then followed up with the impressive 4-y-o debutante PURE SILK (US bred filly) at 6-5 for trainer Philip Feanny in the fourth race over 1200 metres, SHE'S THE WIND a 4-5 favourite in the seventh and GREAT SENSATION at 7-1 in the eighth race.

Simpson, a five-time champion jockey, pushed his season's tally 's to 21 for fourth place in the standings. Meanwhile, the Frank Parham-trained imported horse, SAMMY OH SO (9-1), made most to win the Birnamwood Trophy co-feature over 1500 metres (claiming $325,000-$295,000) in a driving finish from BABY RENEE (7-2) and CAPTAIN BONE (10-1).

Sparingly raced because of unsoundness, SAMMY OH SO won his previous race over 1500 metres on April 5. He was again ridden by Leo 'Twitch' Miller for owner Dennis Pryce.

Incurred wrath of punters

Early on the programme, CTL incurred the wrath of punters when it was mistakenly announced that TOUCHDOWN was a late non-starter, causing scores of punters to leave the horse out of their Pick-9 bets.

TOUCHDOWN not only started but won easily, rubbing salt into the wounds of punters who were unable to change their tickets after it was announced later that TOUCHDOWN was a starter.

Punters also lashed the promoters for their failure to carry the Kentucky Derby live from Churchill Downs, especially when it was known that Jamaican-born jockey Shaun Bridgmohan was down to ride one of the fancied horses, PYRO.