Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

THE REAL STREAM, ridden by champion jockey Brian Harding for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, floored the odds on stable-companion and 2-5 favourite MR. SKILL to win the $2.25 million Cash Pot 'Only For Me' Trophy two-year-old over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

This was race number one in the $9.25 million Supreme Ventures Two-Year-Old series comprising three races.

The series, promoted in conjunction with the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders' Association (TOBA) and Caymanas Track Limited (CTL), continues on November 24 with the $2.75 million Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy over 1400 metres and ends on Boxing Day with the $3.25 million Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over 1600 metres.

Yesterday, DaCosta not only saddled the 9-2 winner and runner-up, but the third horse, STORMIN AWAY, to widen his lead over arch-rival Philip Feanny in the trainers' championship. Feanny saddled the other three runners (all fillies) in the six-strong field.

MR. SKILL, as expected, showed superior speed under Dane Nelson to lead from the Feanny-trained I'M MAGIC passing the half mile, followed by HONEY BUNNY (7-2) with THE REAL STREAM outpaced in fourth at this stage.

Although turning for home some three lengths clear of HONEY BUNNY and THE REAL STREAM, MR. SKILL shortened in the last furlong and was gobbled up by late-kicking THE REAL STREAM in the last 100m, the latter getting up in time to win by a length. Owned by David Crawford and bred by leading breeders, the Orange Valley Estates Limited, THE REAL STREAM is unbeaten in two starts. He's a roan gelding by He'stherealthing out of the Al River Cat mare Jetstream.

Harding's three-timer

Harding, who flew in from his base in Trinidad to ride during the two-day Heroes racing carnival, said he realised he had the race won when THE REAL STREAM changed gears on the outside leaving the furlong pole.

"He was void of early pace but responded nicely to the whip in mid-stretch and I knew then that I would get there in time," said Harding, who rode three winners on the card. He currently enjoys a clear lead in the Trinidad and Tobago jockeys' standings with 58 winners to be on course for an eighth T&T title.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Dwight Chen-trained MUSICAL MAESTRO (6-5) ran on strongly in mid-stretch to win the grades stakes supporting feature for the None Such Sprint Trophy over 1200 metres, this by 3 3/4 lengths from the Harding-ridden LA REINA in a field of seven.

MUSICAL MAESTRO, who recently won the Reggae Trophy, was again ridden by title-chasing jockey Trevor Simpson for popular owner Howard Hamilton.

The leading jockey, apprentice Omar Walker, rode two winners in LEAVE ME ALONE and the DaCosta-trained favourite BELLA IN BLOOM to move to 57 winners - two ahead of closest rival Simpson, who had one winner on the Supreme Ventures-sponsored 11-race card.