RISK REWARDS, one of two winners for Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas, romps home by 6-1/4 lengths in the fourth race over the straight five course, at Caymanas Park yesterday, to record the second win from only three career starts. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

First-time runner IT IS WRITTEN, ridden by champion jockey Omar Walker, stormed through in the closing stages to win the Mercury Sprint feature in a driving finish from 3-5 favourite TWIST OF FATE at Caymanas Park yesterday.

The race, confined to native-bred maiden three-year-old colts and geldings, was contested by nine starters, including four debutantes. Significantly, the first three places were occupied by newcomers.

Installed a 5-2 second favourite, IT IS WRITTEN, from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, won by three-quarter length from the Anthony Nunes-trained TWIST OF FATE under in-form jockey Dane Nelson, with a farther 1-1/2 lengths to another Nunes-trained colt, CIO MOTO (10-1), in third.

Although giving no ends of problems at the starting gate, IT IS WRITTEN raced prominently in third near the stands side as TWIST OF FATE led from YOJIMBO on the far side coming on to the main track. But while comfortably holding YOJIMBO at bay on the run to the furlong pole and looking likely to win unchallenged at this stage, TWIST OF FATE was collared by IT IS WRITTEN, who produced a rare turn of foot midway through the last furlong to overhaul him in the last 50 metres.

DaCosta said he was a bit concerned during the loading-up procedure when IT IS WRITTEN became unsettled at the start and held up the proceedings a bit.

"Having pleased in his preparation, we were expecting him to run a good race but he gave us some anxious moments before getting his act together in the latter stages," said the eight-time champion trainer.

"He came home really well and will be a lot better for this initial experience," added DaCosta.

A handsome bay colt by Footloose II out of Under Thirty, IT IS WRITTEN is owned by Esteban and bred by Stephen Davis.

Although notching only one win on this, the season's first mid-week programme comprising only eight races, Walker extended his lead in the early stages of the jockeys standings over his closest rival. He moved to 13 winners - two ahead of arch rival Paul 'Country' Francis, who sat out day two of a four-day suspension.

Failed to ride a winner

Title-chasing jockey Dane Nelson failed to ride a winner, but Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas rode two in 9-1 chance TASK'S WHIP, who scored a notable upset in the third race and 2-5 favourite RISK REWARDS, who made all impressively in the fourth race over the straight five course for the Husseys.

Fellow Panamanian rider, Ameth Robles, was unlucky not to have notched a double as, after winning the second aboard 2-5 favourite MAZDA POWER, he lost his whip aboard the front-running favourite, MEDICAL REPORT (8-5), in the seventh race over 1400m and was caught by fast-finishing 7-2 shot, NATURAL HEART, within shades of the wire.