Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Henry

EVEN-MONEY favourite MEDICAL REPORT duly made it two in a row at Caymanas Park, landing the St. Catherine Cup open-allowance feature much easier than the official margin of victory indicated.

Ridden by the promising 3kg claiming apprentice André Martin, for owner Michael Steele and veteran trainer Noel Ennevor, MEDICAL REPORT was held off the early pace in third as highly fancied DIGI N' JIGGY (2-1) led comfortably into the straight, ahead of another 2-1 chance, UNKNOWN VARIABLE.

But MEDICAL REPORT came down quickly into second (wide) and was soon taking dead aim at DIGI N' JIGGY, eventually going by leaving the furlong pole to win by half a length, with a bit in hand, from DIGI N' JIGGY, Bred by Owen and Solomon Sharpe, MEDICAL REPORT is a six-year-old bay gelding by The Medic out of Princess Ellen. She had previously won by a nose in a driving finish from UNKNOWN VARIABLE and DIESEL over the straight five course on January 13, but her two old rivals were soundly beaten on this occasion.

Auspicious debut

Earlier in the afternoon, ROMEZ, with former champion jockey Wesley Henry aboard, made an auspicious debut to win the Mercury Sprint co-feature for native-bred three-year-old colts and geldings over the straight five course.

Installed a 3-5 favourite in a field of seven, ROMEZ disputed the early lead with the well-backed FELICIDAD (2-1), and highly fancied first-time runner RANKING then quickened away coming on to the main track to beat FELICIDAD by 2 1/2 lengths in the good time of 1:00.3.

Bred by the Orange Valley Estates Limited, ROMEZ, who raced on Lasix, is a 'well- conformed' bay colt by Pat N Jac out of Charmer For A Day which makes him a full brother to FLYING TIGER who once held the straight five track record.

ROMEZ is owned by Milade Azan and trained by Richard Azan.

Henry had a second winner on the card (a chance ride) aboard the Peter McMaster-trained EXPLOSIVE PEAK (3-1) in the straight five race for overnight allowance horses. Owned by 'Miss Suckie' (the trainer's wife) whose other horse in the 12-strong field, TRIPLE ACCOUNT finished second at 26-1, EXPLOSIVE PEAK made all to win by 3 3/4 lengths, as the 4-5 favourite BULLET TRAIN (chased) could only manage third.

Also riding two winners was in-form Oneil Mullings. His winners were MEDICAL ACCOUNT (made all) at 6-1 in the fifth race over 1400 metres and LIBERTADOR at 3-1 in the closing race over 1300 metres.

LIBERTADOR had to survive a lengthy stewards' inquiry after LEGENDARY GLITZ fell when racing in a tight cluster of horses for the lead at the half mile, resulting in an horrific fall for the sparingly-used apprentice Sandre Ridley, who miraculously escaped serious injury.

Paul Francis also rode winners in SIR GEE and OH NO GRANDPA, as did the apprentice Jason Simpson who had the leg over chief councillor and Rickayba.