Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

RICHARD AZAN-trained RAMPAGE, last year's Red Stripe Sprint champion, yesterday took advantage of a scrappy start by 4-5 favourite OUTSTANDING to win the 1100-metre Pringle Cup for Open Allowance horses by a neck over the unlucky filly.

Backed as the favourite to land the quick sprint, OUTSTANDING reared at the gate and ran towards the rail at the start, losing several lengths as the speedy American-bred EXPLOSIVE PEAK tore away on the lead from ASKAWOMAN and RAMPAGE racing in third position.

With EXPLOSIVE PEAK swinging for home in front by at least three lengths, 5-1 shot RAMPAGE moved past ASKAWOMAN entering the straight.

Made up ground

OUTSTANDING, who had only two horses behind at the half-mile marker, made up tremendous ground to straighten fourth along the rail and accelerated rapidly under Peter Bryan to challenge RAMPAGE and EXPLOSIVE PEAK a half-furlong out.

However, the effort took its toll on OUTSTANDING in the rush for the wire as RAMPAGE, partnered by Shane Ellis, got first run on EXPLOSIVE PEAK, and rallied strongly on the outside to stave off the filly's challenge close to home.

Down in class RAMPAGE, who has been competing among Grade I horses, last won in April, landing the Lady Geeta Trophy at 1200 metres.

EXPLOSIVE PEAK, ridden by champion jockey Omar Walker, stayed on for third ahead of NASATOL.

Yesterday's co-feature, the 1400-metre Sweet Ruckus Trophy for two-year-olds, also saw another favourite, Wayne DaCosta's 3-5 hotshot MR SKILL, biting the dust, nabbed at the wire by American-bred stablemate, LIKKLE BIT, who won at odds of 27-1 on debut.

Hunting a hat-trick of wins, the speedy MR SKILL, ridden by Dane Nelson, engaged the American filly SMOOTHABILITY in a break-neck duel down the backstretch before shaking loose three and a half furlongs out. However, the local-bred's stamina limitations started showing a furlong and a half out, despite the speedster being well clear of the field.

LIKKLE BIT, who straightened fifth in the six-horse field, ran on strongly to go by SMOOTHABILITY a furlong out and leapt at MR SKILL tying up close home after setting ridiculously fast splits of 22.3, 45.1 and 1:11.2 for six furlongs.

With Nelson trying his best to get home MR SKILL, LIKKLE BIT, ridden by apprentice Rayan Wilson, gobbled him up inside the final quarter-furlong and ran out a two and a quarter-length winner at the end.

Walker ended the season in fine style, posting a double, HEZA RANKING and MAN OF THE SEA to win the jockeys' championship with 95 winners, well clear of five-time champion Trevor Simpson on 76.

Top trainer

Percy Hussey was the day's top trainer, posting consecutive doubles after his big win with Josie Wales in Wednesday's Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes.

Hussey's winners yesterday were PRIDE'N'GLORY in the fourth and MAN OF THE SEA in the sixth on the 10-race card.

DaCosta retained his champion trainer title, way ahead of Philip Feanny and Howard Hamilton's Hamark Farms also repeated as champion owner.

Racing continues at the park on New Year's Day with big carryovers due to upsets in yesterday's feature races.

The Super-6 has a carryover of $974,625 and the Pick-9 will open at $4.5 million.