Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

RUNNING LIKE a scared hare from in front leaving the half mile, RED I scored a 25-1 upset in the sixth and final race of the second CTL Claiming Series ($220,000 and less) over 1500 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Ridden by non-claiming apprentice Jason Simpson, RED I, who many believed was suspect over the distance, turned for home with a commanding lead over highly-fancied THUNDER CLAP (4-1) and instead of stopping, found another gear approaching the distance to win by all of seven and three-quarter lengths from 7-1 chance CHINA TOWN.

Failed to justify favouritism

The latter enabled veteran trainer Robert Darby Sr to win the trainers' category in the series for the second time this year, securing the $75,000 prize.

Ryan Darby, son of Darby Sr, saddled the third horse SAMBA DANCER, who failed to justify 4-5 favouritism in the 10-strong field, despite showing up prominently on the inside for the first half of the race.

A seven-year-old chestnut mare by Splinter Red out of the Restless Thief mare Lady Diana, RED I notched her fourth win from 18 starts this season.

Murphy duly won the owners' category in the series with 58 points to cop the $125,000 cash incentive, clear of Kary Neale whose horse, CHINA TOWN, came second to give the owner a $75,000 bonus.

Substantial bonuses

Murphy (58 points) failed by two and a half points to overhaul Darby Sr in the trainers' category, but said he was satisfied with the outcome of the series, which ran from July to December with one race over varied distances per month.

"I received substantial bonuses in two categories and who could ask for anything more," said Murphy.

Earlier in the afternoon, the 8-5 marginal favourite FLAGAMAN (Shane Ellis up) held on grimly by a neck in a blanket finish to win the restricted allowance race over 1300 metres for native and imported three-year-olds from the fast-finishing pair of PLEASURE FIGHT (5-1) and the imported filly PLATINUM VALLEY (6-1) another head away third in a field of 10.