- Dennis CokeRichard Ashenheim (left) vice-chairman of The Gleaner Company, presents the Star Trophy to Anthony Nunes, trainer of PATAS DE FUEGO who won the Star Trophy at Caymanas Park yesterday. Looking on is jockey Robert Reid.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE inaugural running of the $365,000 STAR Trophy over the circular nine course lived up to expectations at Caymanas Park yesterday, the race resulting in a breathtaking finish with 7-2 chance PATAS DE FUEGO getting up on the line to win in a three-way photo.
Dubbed The STAR in the Park race day in association with Track and Pools, the official racing guide, it turned out to be the most exciting raceday so far this season, as the 10-race programme not only featured the Track & Pools Trophy over the straight five course for maiden three-year-old fillies, but the $500,000 Prince Consort and Thornbird Stakes, both Guineas preps, as well as the Bonnie Blue Flag Trophy for top class horses over the circular nine course.
Fittingly, the race of the day was THE STAR Trophy, an overnight allowance contest which looked a wide open affair on paper.
Ridden by bang in form lightweight jockey Robert Reid, PATAS DE FUEGO was outpaced in The STAR Trophy, to the extent he was last but one in the 12-horse field at the halfway stage.
During all of this, PREACH PREACHER (14-1) led narrowly from ZEEDON (5-1), followed by a two-length gap to MR. VIGOROUS and 3-1 chance RICH BETTOR disputing third, ahead of VISIONARY and 5-2 favourite FABRIKATOR.
ZEEDON assumed the lead from PREACH PREACHER on the inside leaving the half-mile and turned for home ahead of a 'wall of horses'. At this stage PATAS DE FUEGO had made steady headway to turn for home with at least seven horses ahead of him, seemingly having it all to do at this stage.
As they galloped past the furlong pole, ZEEDON under top apprentice Ramon Parish was challenged strongly by L.S.C. CHOICE (14-1) on the inside. And both were engaged in a neck and neck duel in deep stretch, when along came PATAS DE FUEGO with a devastating last furlong run on the outside to catch them virtually on the line.
The four-year-old colt from the stables of Anthony "Baba" Nunes won by a head from ZEEDON, who in turn was only a nose in front of L.S.C. CHOICE with apprentice Kerry Perry in the saddle.
Nunes, who conditions PATAS DE FUEGO for Barbadian owner Elias Haloute, who was unable to come over for the race, said "Callie" Reid who rode him just perfectly.
"I instructed him to keep Patas De Fuego well off the pace as the horse has a tendency to flatten out in the latter stages of his races when produced too early.
"I was quietly confident that he could win this time, for he was nicely in at the weights and I knew if he was ridden correctly, neither Fabrikator nor Heart Throb could beat him at the revised weights. Then again, I was hoping that coming from so far back he would not encounter traffic problems, but happily the gaps materialised and I am happy", explained the trainer who conditioned the 1998 Jamaica and Trinidad Derby winner TERREMOTO for Haloute.
Meanwhile, Wayne DaCosta's PRINCESS TALIA (7-2) made all under Trevor Simpson to win the Track & Pools Trophy race over the straight five course, while COURT CASE, a 4-5 favourite with Andrew Ramgeet riding for veteran trainer Ken Mattis, made all to win the Prince Consort Stakes for 3-y-o colts and geldings.
The Percy Hussey-trained SEARCH LIGHT (11-1), ridden by Richie Mitchell substituting for an injured Charlie Hussey, passed the post first in the Thornbird Stakes, but became the fifth winner to be disqualified since the start of the season, this for causing interference to long-time leader MEANT TO BE (third) approaching the distance. The race was awarded to SASHIE (7-1), ridden by Kenyatta Davis for champion trainer Philip Feanny, and MEANT TO BE promoted to second.
