By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer TOCUMEN, RUNNING at odds of 6-1 with Paul Ramsay aboard, outfinished the 2-1 favourite BROTHER DANIEL to win yesterday's Caymanas Park feature for the Cecil C. Charlton Trophy over 1200 metres, in a driving finish.
Owned and trained by Glenville Morrissey, the 5-y-o bay gelding by Domino Jack out of Jeweloftheheart rebounded from his fair fifth behind SHAHID in the Labour Day Trophy over the distance on May 24, to win by three-quarter length in a field of 10 horses coming from the $390,000 - $330,000 claiming spread.
It was highly fancied RESTLESS WARRIOR (7-2) under champion jockey Trevor Simpson who showed superior speed to lead from TOCUMEN, QUICK MEDIC (4-1), RUCKUS (4-1) and BROTHER DANIEL in the early stages.
As they sorted themselves out, TOCUMEN and BROTHER DANIEL, out moving as a team in second, challenged RESTLESS WARRIOR approaching the home turn and both went by entering the straight.
ENSUING DUEL
In the ensuing duel between the two five-year-olds, TOCUMEN proved the stronger from early in the last furlong, but he had to be pushed out for a narrow win over the apprentice-ridden BROTHER DANIEL, as RED BOOTLACES (6-1) stayed on for third, a farther 2-1/2 lengths away.
There was an objection against the winner lodged by apprentice Andron Findley (aboard Brother Daniel), as TOCUMEN for a stride or two approaching the distance appeared to have bumped into BROTHER DANIEL challenging on the outside. However, the objection was overruled by the Stewards.
Bred by Orange Hall Stables Limited, TOCUMEN has now won three races from 10 starts this season, but by and large has been fairly consistent.
Later in the afternoon, the 2003 'Horse of the Year' A KING IS BORN won the 3-y-o and up Open Allowance race over the straight five course in near track record time, despite topweight of 57.0kg.
Installed a howling 1-9 favourite with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths riding for owner Howard Hamilton and many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny, A KING IS BORN disputed the lead with the lightly weighted hat-trick seeker U.S. ONE in the 10-strong field before asserting his authority leaving the quarter pole.
The 4-y-o son of Royal Minister out of the 1990 Guineas and Derby winner Distinctly Native powered home by 2-1/2 lengths from U.S. ONE, covering the distance in the smart time of 56.4 which is only one-fifth of a second outside the track record held jointly by two Feanny-trained horses, EROS since September 1991 and RAKKADASH in October, 2002. RAKKADASH finished nine lengths fourth at odds of 49-1 yesterday while, COURT CASE was a late non-starter.
THREE FOR FEANNY
Unbeaten in three starts this season, A KING IS BORN completed a three-timer for Feanny on the 12-race programme. His other winners were the 2-y-o debutante SUPERSONIC in the first race and MUSIC MASTER at 9-5 in the seventh, both ridden by former champion Charles Hussey.
FOUR-TIMER FOR ELLIS
Hussey was overshadowed by the 2000 champion jockey Shane Ellis, who rode four winners in the 3-y-o debutante GRACIOUS GIFT (5-2) for eight-time champion trainer Kenneth Mattis; ZACKATTACK, a 3-2 favourite in the eighth race which was delayed for 15 minutes owing to a horse (the eventual winner) losing his tongue tie at the start; LADY DOC, another 3-2 favourite in the 10th race; and RESTLESS RUFFLE at 4-1 in the nightpan.
As a result, Ellis ended the day on 51 winners - seven adrift of the leader Trevor Simpson who rode one winner in the 2-5 favourite PACKHU.
