- Michael Sloley/Freelance Photographer
Champion jockey Trevor Simpson (left) and promising apprentice Paul Francis celebrate after yesterday's seventh race at Caymanas Park ended in a sensational dead-heat. The photo finish camera could not separate ZULU PRINCESS with Simpson up and AFFIRMATION with Francis aboard.
Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter
CHAMPION jockey Trevor Simpson yesterday brought down the house on his first day back in the saddle at Caymanas Park, forcing a thrilling dead-heat aboard trainer Wayne DaCosta's even-money favourite ZULU PRINCESS by nabbing 9-5 chance AFFIRMATION in the last nod at the wire.
Hot apprentice Paul Francis was stealing home astride AFFIRMATION inside the last half-furlong of the 1200-metre race, looking all set to get the better of Simpson again following a good finish aboard POINT GUARD in the second race.
However, Simpson, returning off a four-day ban after booting home a record 171 winners last year, squeezed inside a narrow space the apprentice left vacant along the rail and although riding in cramped quarters, got topweight Distaff winner ZULU PRINCESS to draw level at the last hop.
Simpson's other winner on the 10-race card was DaCosta's PRINCESS ALEXANDRA in the 1400-metre fourth race for $260,000-240,000 Claimers, blasting away from Wesley Henry-ridden STAR OF THE MOMENT at the top of the lane to post a near five-length win.
The day's feature, the 1100-metre Millard Ziadie Memorial, was landed by Philip Feanny's ROY'STOY with Shane Ellis aboard. The speedy four-year-old gelding tracked RESTLESS PEGASUS to the half-mile before cruising to the lead.
Rallying as a team with TIGERINTHEWOODS running along the rail, RESTLESS PEGASUS ran on to get within a length-and-quarter of ROY'STOY coming back somewhat but Feanny's gelding was already safely home.
Veteran jockey Charles Hussey was also among winners' row with a two-timer, PHANTOM J for Feanny in the 1000-metre straight fifth race and SOFTLY MY DEAR at 1200 metres in the following event for his brother Percy Hussey.
Form players had a field day with eight favourites obliging. POINT GUARD and NAVIGATOR, who won the 1820-metre ninth race, were the day's only mild upsetters at 7-2 each.
With favourites getting home aplenty, there were 100 winning tickets in the million-dollar Pick-9, each returning $19,824.50. The Pick-6 was also collared, returning a paltry $335.50 with 1525 winning tickets.
Local racing resumes next Saturday with the 1100-metre St. Catherine Cup for Open Allowance horses.
