Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner SAINT CECELIA went wire-to-wire at Caymanas Park yesterday to win the 38th running of the CTL Gold Cup over 1400 metres in a driving finish from the talented American filly HONEYOFALADY.

This renewal of the $1.3 million grade one race for top class horses could be aptly described as the 'Fillies Gold Cup', as the first five past the post in the 11-strong field were indeed fillies.

Significantly, the two three-year-old fillies in the line-up went down to the wire with SAINT CECELIA, installed a 2-1 favourite with Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas astride, holding on by a neck from the fast-finishing HONEYOFALADY (7-2) under top apprentice Doushane Gordon.

They were followed home by the classy four-year-old filly AHWHOFAH (7-2), who failed in her bid to win the race for the second consecutive year, but was by no means disgraced under the crushing impost of 60.5kg and Shane Ellis aboard.

Completing the high-five were the outgoing 'Horse of the Year' ALSAFRA (16-1) and the recent winner LADY HASTINGS (7-2).

Early lead

Thrown in with a mere 48.0kg, SAINT CECELIA was early in the lead. She was chased at close range by QUICK & GRAY (29-1), ALSAFRA, GOOD CITIZEN and AHWHOFAH not far off the pace.

After thwarting a strong challenge from ALSAFRA on entering the straight, SAINT CECELIA had to be shaken up in the closing stages to repel a late run from HONEYOFALADY on the outside.

Owned by Stephen and Valentine Chung and trained by Spencer Chung, SAINT CECELIA, who was unraced as a two-year-old, notched her fifth win from 10 starts in this her first season, for total stakes of $5.2 million. The chestnut filly by Burning Marque out of the Bates Motel mare She's On Wheels was bred by HAM Stables Limited.

Trainer Spencer Chung said after finishing sixth to shock winner HOMBRE in the recent ADL Superstakes over 2000 metres, he knew she would be a different proposition going the shorter distance of the Gold Cup.

"She had the speed to set off in front and with the light impost they would really have to run in order to beat her today. In the end she just made it, but it was a brave effort and this filly is our pride and joy," explained Chung.

Cardenas, who speaks little English, said: "Me very confident today... she too light and this one of my biggest wins since coming to Jamaica."

On a day when new trainers Edward Walker and Renex Burrell saddled their first winners in CONEYISLANDBOY and MAGDALA, respectively, SAEED, running as the 3-5 favourite with title-chasing jockey Paul Francis, romped the Andrew H. B. Aguilar Memorial Cup for native-bred three-year-olds over 1600 metres for in-form-trainer Gary Subratie.