In-form jockey Paul 'Country' Francis stole the show at Caymanas Park for the second consecutive raceday, riding four winners on yesterday's 10-race programme.

Among them was 6-1 chance THE BEST MAN, who made the most to win the Ossie Steele Memorial Cup feature race (claiming $390,000-$340,000) over 1200 metres by 4 1/4 lengths.

Francis also won aboard 3-1 chance BLUE MAGIC for many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny in the first race over 1100 metres, as well as QUICKSTER at 4-1 for trainer Gary Griffiths in the fifth race and FIRE DRAGON at 17-1, again for Griffiths, in the eighth race for maiden four-year-olds and up.

Following on the heels of his sparkling back-to-back three-timer on the previous Saturday, this latest windfall has enabled Francis to join the out-of-form Dane Nelson in second position in the jockeys' championship with 60 winners.

Both are 15 adrift of reigning champion, Omar Walker, who rode three winners in FELICIDAD (9-5), NEW KINGSTON (3-5) and stable-companion HEART OF GOLD in the closing Track Price Plus Dig Out Handicap.

Francis basically had an armchair ride aboard one-time overnight allowance horse THE BEST MAN in the feature, which was contested by eight starters.

The five-year-old bay gelding turned for home some three lengths clear of AVABELLE, THREE QUEENS and RAJPUT, then kept on strongly to win convincingly from Walker's mount RAJPUT (3-1) with PAT ON CALL (15-1) third.

worked diligently

A five-year-old bay gelding by Royal Minister out of Jamaican Runner, THE BEST MAN is owned by O'Shaun Connection and trained by Ryan Darby, who claimed him for $390,000 just over two months ago.

"When I got him he needed a lot of attention and I had to work diligently to get him right. He was expected to win on Independence Day, but lost an iron (faulty gear) and finished well beaten as a result.

"However, we found another suitable race for him and I'm happy for the win," said the second-generation trainer.

Francis, who started riding at the backend of 2002 after graduating from the Jockeys' School, has achieved a great deal since. He was crowed champion apprentice twice early in his career and was in fact the last jockey to have ridden six winners on a card at Caymanas Park, this on Boxing Day, 2004.

Griffiths and champion trainer Wayne DaCosta saddled two winners each on a day when the fancied horses held their own for the most part.

Caymanas Park will celebrate its golden anniversary next Saturday and the feature race on the commemorative programme will be the $1.25 million Caymanas Park 50th Anniversary Trophy (grade one) over 1400 metres.

Among the nine entries are AHWHOFAH, RUM TALK, RACING MACHINE, CHADMAN, MEDICAL REPORT, SHANGHAI PASS and GOOD CITIZEN.