Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Rampage is eased down by jockey Charles Hussey as he passes the post nine furlongs clear in the Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-y-o Stakes over 1600 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. - IAN ALLEN STAFF/PHOTGRAPHER
ODDS-ON FAVOURITE RAMPAGE turned in an awesome front-running display at Caymanas Park yesterday to win the $3 million Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over 1600 metres, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:39.0 in scoring by nine lengths.
Ridden by four-time champion jockey Charles Hussey, the bay colt by Pat N' Jac out of the Texas Prospector mare Arantxa provided owner/trainer Richard Azan with his second consecutive victory in this two-year-old championship race
following KAMIR a year ago.
With this victory, his third from five starts, RAMPAGE is also sure to be voted the champion two-year-old and has established himself the winter book favourite for the 2000 Guineas to be run over 1600 metres next April.
RAMPAGE also sealed the Breeders' Championship for many-time champions Orange Valley Estates Limited.
RAMPAGE, the 3-5 favourite running at odds of 3-5, broke winging from the number 11 post position on the outside of the field and proceeded to lead by two lengths from his lesser-fancied stable-companion ACHILLES under United States-based Jamaican jockey Andrew Ramgeet, closely followed by MYLEGACY, HAWAIIAN DANCER and MINISTER ON FIRE (3-1) under outgoing champion jockey Trevor Simpson.
WELL-OILED MACHINE
Running like a well-oiled machine, RAMPAGE turned for home some four lengths clear of MINISTER OF FIRE, then moved farther and farther away to win by the proverbial city block from the Feanny-trained MINISTER ON FIRE, who had 4-1/4 lengths to spare over KYSHA BABY (17-1) in third.
"This was a fantastic performance," declared Azan. "I was hoping to win the race for the second straight year but this performance was mind-boggling and I have very high hopes for him in the Classics next season".
Hussey said Azan instructed him to race RAMPAGE from in front.
"But he was travelling so sweetly from the halfway stage that it was a procession from that point. He's a very nice horse and the sky's the limit for him," Hussey admitted.
Earlier, the lightly weighted WIMBLEDON (7-1) outstayed rivals to win the $1.25 million Harry Jackson Memorial Cup over 2400 metres by 2-3/4 lengths from 3-5 favourite AD INFINITUM, the mount of leading jockey Brian Harding and the front running top weight FORMALLY GOLD with Hussey astride.
BATTLING LEADERS
Trained by Ralph Porter, WIMBLEDON (outpaced a bit), who went by the battling leaders FORMALLY GOLD and AD INFINITUM leaving the furlong pole, was ridden by veteran lightweight jockey Robert Reid for owner Delroy Ellis.
On a day when CROP OVER at 67-1 scored a stunning upset, seven-time Trinidadian champion jockey Brian Harding basically confirmed his dethroning of Simpson in the jockeys' championship.
Following his four-timer on Saturday, Harding put the icing on the cake with three winners in LADY SEETADEO, SOY MUJER and CONCORDE to move to 107, eight clear of Simpson who also rode three winners in PRINCESS ARIZONA, WILD SIDE and KING AL.
The owners' championship between Alexander Haber and Elias Haloute is, however, still extremely close with only one raceday remaining. Less than $50,000 separate them with Haloute marginally ahead.
