Body and Soul connects

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

BODY AND SOUL, ridden by Percy Williams for leading trainer Philip Feanny, stayed on well from below the distance to win the knotty Overnight Allowance race over 1800 metres in decisive fashion at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Offering odds of 4-1 in a race which attracted heavy betting owing to its competitiveness, BODY AND SOUL won by two lengths from 9-1 chance VOLCANE who in turn had a head to spare over 35-1 outsider SIR MOHANDAS BABA in the field of 12. Fourth went to PROCEEDACCORDINGLY at odds of 7-1.

The betting made the stretch running SPECIAL CLEARANCE a marginal favourite at 7-2, but the American mare was too early for her own good and ended up in the ruck.

It was topweight MIRANDA WARNING (9-1) who made the early running under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths, but gave way to SUAVE NATIVE (4-1) on the inside after 600 metres.

Also prominently placed were VOLCANE, PROCEEDACCORDINGLY and BARBARA LORRAINE with BODY AND SOUL held just off the early pace in sixth.

MIRANDA WARNING regained the lead from SUAVE NATIVE approaching the three and turned for home with BODY AND SOUL breathing down her neck. It did not take long for BODY AND SOUL to dispose of the leader and when VOLCANE began to loom dangerously on the inside a furlong out, she quickened nicely to leave the issue beyond doubt.

Owned N.D.P.D. Blue, BODY AND SOUL was notching her second win from nine starts this season, but she has been a model of consistency.

Earlier on he 10-race programme, which surprisingly offered no trophy race (a rarity), TIME AND AGAIN made all convincingly to win the circular nine high claiming ($310,000 - $270,000) by 3 1/2 lengths. TIME AND AGAIN was ridden by champion jockey Andrew Ramgeet for owner/trainer Michael Beecham.

Another winning favourite was the Percy Hussey-trained PREDECESSOR who completed his Derby prep with an easy victory in the opening Restricted Allowance race over the circular nine course. Hussey said the lightly raced three-year-old grey gelding will definitely face the starter in the June 10 Red Stripe Derby alongside stable-companion and hot ante-post favourite AERO STAR, who is rearing to go.

Apprentice Kenyatta Davis rode back to back winners in 7-5 favourite WILD TRAVELLER and PRINCE AKEEM (5-1) who made all in the fourth race.

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