Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

ON A somewhat eventful day at Caymanas Park, former champion jockey Shane Ellis stole the show with four winners on the 11-race programme.

Ellis, once a contender for this year's jockeys' title, capitalised on the misfortune of champion and leading jockey Omar Walker, who was involved in a spill, and title-chasing Dane Nelson, both of whom came up empty-handed, to take the spotlight.

Ellis won aboard DUST ROCK at 5-2 in the fourth race, then followed up with MAYKEN JOY at 2-1 in the sixth, MR. SKILL at 5-2 in the 10th race for overnight allowance horses and closed the programme with 6-1 shot MITAKA.

Significantly, MR. SKILL, who won the day's unofficial feature race, was a chance ride for Ellis, replacing Omar Walker who had a terrible fall from the front-running favourite TRAFIGURA in the first race over the straight five course and did not ride for the remainder of the day.

TRAFIGURA, a lightly-raced American three-year-old filly, trained by Gary Subratie, looked to have the opening race at her mercy when clear of rivals a furlong out, but snapped her left foreleg at that stage (subsequently died), dislodging Walker who took a heavy fall.

Badly shaken up, Walker was rushed to the first aid post where the doctor on duty advised him not to ride for the rest of the day as he had suffered a slight concussion and was bruised as well.

MR. SKILL, who is part-owned and trained by champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, made all impressively to win by 5 1/4 lengths from stable-companion NATURALLY ROYAL (9-2) in a field of 11.

The day's major upset came via the 99-1 outsider SONG BOOK in the eighth race (Claiming $220,000 - $190,000) over 1100 metres.

Ridden by apprentice Jason Simpson for trainer and part-owner Roy Shields, SONG BOOK ran on strongly in the last furlong to catch front-running favourite COLLEGE BOY with Ameth Robles astride.