Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
DISTINCTLY IRISH, with Winston Griffiths aboard, cruises to victory in the Chariman’s Trophy race at Caymanas Park last month. Griffiths has been replaced by fellow Hall-of-Fame jockey Charles Hussey today. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
RECENT CHAIRMAN’S Trophy winner DISTINCTLY IRISH goes for win number 16 in his illustrious career at Caymanas Park today, this time in the graded stakes feature for the L.R. ‘Bob’ Mayall Memorial Trophy over 1600 metres.
The 2004 Derby winner and ‘Horse of the Year’ shoulders top weight of 60.5kg as usual with a new jockey in champion Charles Hussey aboard. The four-time champion replaces customary rider Winston ‘Fanna’ Griffiths, whoreports indicate has not been to the track since THE BOMBER was beaten in the St. Leger on July 7.
Although expected to start favourite, DISTINCTLY IRISH faces two strong contenders in the fleet-footed American horse CLOCK WORK and the consistent MAJOR MAYER, but he remains the one to beat.
From the stables of 14-time champion Philip Feanny, DISTINCTLY IRISH returned to winning form on June 23 with an easy victory over LA REINA in the Chairman’s Trophy race over 1500 metres.
Storming through approaching the distance with Griffiths astride, DISTINCTLY IRISH won by two lengths from LA REINA, who renews the rivalry on slightly improved terms today.
Rivalry
The illustrious six-year-old gelding by Irish Quest out of the 1990 Derby winner Distinctly Native also accounted for JUST SOME THOUGHTS (third) and his stable companions STRONG DELIVERY (fifth) and REIGNING HEROINE (sixth). All renew the rivalry today but none of these is expected to turn the tables on DISTINCTLY IRISH, who continues to please at exercise.
It is left to be seen whether CLOCK WORK, from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, or for that matter the Michael McIntosh-trained MAJOR MAYER, both free-running types, can escape a fit DISTINCTLY IRISH in the last 200 metres.
CLOCK WORK, who beat him decisively over 1300 metres when they last met in the Digicel Irish Jamaican Stakes on June 2, will once again try to steal a march. But in receipt of only 4.5kg today, I doubt he can hold the Irish at bay over a mile. A bigger danger could well be MAJOR MAYER, who looks tempting at the weights with 51kg and favourite rider Richie Mitchell aboard.
So it’s DISTINCTLY IRISH, well drawn on the outside of the field, to repeat at the expense of MAJOR MAYER, CLOCK WORK and LA REINA.
Other firm fancies on the 11-race programme are CASH PAT to make amends for her near miss over the straight-five course last Saturday by landing the first race, RALLYTOMARKET (working well) with Hussey riding for Feanny to romp the second, UNTOUCHABLE to outfinish SIR KHAN in the third, PRIME MINISTER in the fifth, DANCING SAM in the eighth and the well-prepared NAVAJOJOE ahead of CELEBRATION TIME and ME LLAMO in the closing race over 1400 metres.
