Ainsley Walters, Staff ReporterTRAINER BARRINGTON Rambally's FLYING TIGER yesterday produced a blitzing run at 1000 metres straight to erase the mighty EROS' track record of 56 and three-fifths of a second, posting 56 and two-fifths at the distance in the 12th race at Caymanas Park.
Sent off as a 5-1 shot in the big 16-horse Overnight Allowance field, FLYING TIGER chased NATURAL PRINCE out of the chute for the first two furlongs before hitting top speed coming onto the main track and across the dummy rail. Enjoying apprentice Andron Findley's three-kilo bug claim, the speedy five-year-old gelding surged to the lead with 52 kilos and thwarted NATURAL PRINCE, who tried hard to rally under Joe Buchanan, but was safely held by two lengths at the end.
Philip Feanny-trained EROS' held the record for more than 13 years, established on September 21, 2001. The mark was equalled in October 2002 by another Feanny Stakes runner, RAKKADASH.
BACK TO FITNESS
However, FLYING TIGER, previously trained by Wayne DaCosta, was acquired as a $390,000 Claimer by Rambally, who nursed the chestnut gelding back to fitness. A 1000-metre straight specialist, FLYING TIGER was posting back-to-back victories after winning in 57 and two-fifths at the distance on December 1.
Rambally, a nominee for Most Improved Trainer for 2004, was escatatic after FLYING TIGER's record-breaking performance.
"It's a joy for me," he told The Sunday Gleaner. "It' a great achievement and I feel really proud, knowing when I claimed him for $390,000 he was scratched lame on the day, unable to race."
Rambally said he was pretty confident of FLYING TIGER's chances despite the presence of the 7-5 American-bred favourite ZICKWARTY.
"He trained well for the race," he said. "When he won the last time I didn't get a chance to train him properly because of bowed tendons. He is sounder now and a lot better."
ONE OF MANY UPSETS
FLYING TIGER was one of many upsets on the massive-13 race card, which got underway at 11:30 a.m.
The feature event, the divided Eight Thirty Sprint for Maiden three-year-old fillies ran true-to-form with Percy Hussey's SELECTED VIEW winning Division One as a marginal 9-5 second choice. ROYAL SEA won Division Two, also at 9-5 for trainer Rowan Mathie. However, the day largely belonged to upsetters, sending $3.5 million worth of exotic betting carryovers to next Saturday's race meet.
THIS IS WAR, trained by Donovan Raymond, produced the day's most stunning upset, winning the 1820-metre 11th race at whopping odds of 150-1 with sparingly-used jockey Wilbert Gobay aboard.
THIS IS WAR chased tearaway leader OBEAHMAN to the top of the lane, took over and thwarted a determined challenge from the favourite FIASCO, who came running on along the rail. In a stirring stretch duel Gobay kept THIS IS WAR going, rolling over his mount hands and heels close home to win by three-quarters of a length.
