Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Peace Angel, ridden by Oneil Mullings, getting the better of the favourite Law Lord (Trevor Simpson) to win the second race, the Digicel Caribflex, for three-year-olds over 1300m at Caymanas Park on Saturday. Offering odds of 5-2, Peace Angel is owned by Michael Lyncook and trained by former champion Kenneth Mattis. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
LAST YEAR it was MIRACLE MAN. And this year it was RANSOM MAN.
Both won the Digicel Jamaica Derby in contrasting fashion, but insofar as RANSOM MAN is concerned, the three-year-old gelding by Ghost Ransom out the Wise Emissary mare Dame O' Mandy emerged one of the easiest winners of this time in scoring by 9-1/4 lengths from HIDALGO, covering the mile and half trip in a much faster time (2:35.1) than subsequent 'Horse of the Year' MIRACLE MAN who clocked 2:36.3.
Indeed, RANSOM MAN who was fairly well fancied at 9-2 in a field of 13 native bred three-year-olds, turned what had appeared to be the most open Derby in years into a cakewalk from the final bend, leaving in his wake the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) and 9-5 favourite ALLIEDFORCE, who could only manage fourth and the 2000 Guineas winner RAMPAGE (also at 9-5) who finished a floundering 11th, beaten all of 46 lengths.
No praise is too high for trainer Eraldo 'Lance' Fullerton who turned out RANSOM MAN in unbeatable fashion to win his first Derby with what was his first runner in the race.
With RANSOM MAN having impressed at exercise coming into the race, the 54-year-old trainer was very confident of winning. I understand that a day or two before, the race connections of RANSOM MAN were actually celebrating his anticipated victory.
After the race, his elated groom Stanford Russell declared: "If him lose, man a jump off a stand".
Winning owner Darrington Ferguson, who had previously owned horses such as PRINCE NATANIEL and PLAYMATE, was overcome with emotion and complained of not feeling well after the race. However, he added his two cents worth:
"This victory was something that was expected by the stable. After his good second to Alliedforce in the Governor's Cup, we knew he would be at a peak for the derby and it was just a matter of how far he would win.
"He was working best of all coming into the race, galloping seven furlongs in 1:28.1 and champion jockey Brian Harding rode a peach of a race.
"Judging from the margin of victory we are yet to see the best of him. He is relatively lightly raced and should develop into a top-class campaigner.
"I would like to pay tribute to trainer Eraldo Fullerton for his timely preparation of the horse. This is definitely one for the small stables," he said.
Fullerton, who obtained a licence in 1998 but did not saddle his first winner, TEXAS WIN until June 26, 1999, was posting only his 18th career win with RANSOM MAN. Landing the most prestigious race with little by way of résumé was indeed a remarkable training feat.
He paid tribute to trainer Neville Cousley who taught him the ropes and veterinarian Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett, who spearheaded the JRC course for assistant trainers which enabled him to become a full-fledged trainer.
