- Dennis CokeThe imported filly LET'S GO DANCIN (Wesley Henry) holds stable companion I'MSATISFIED at bay to win the Lotto Gold Cup feature over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
OVERSEAS-BASED Jamaican jockey Wesley "Calaloo" Henry made a triumphant return to Caymanas Park yesterday with four winners, including 5-1 chance LET'S GO DANCIN in the $1.25 million Lotto Gold Cup over 1400 metres.
Running with the postage stamp impost of 45.5kg, LET'S GO DANCIN humbled a star-studded field of top-class horses, scoring by a length from stable-companion and fellow 5-1 shot I'MSATISFIED under former champion Percy Williams.
The winner and runner-up were saddled by champion trainer-designate Philip Feanny who posted his 85th winner of the season, only one away from equalling his 1991 record of most wins in a year.
LET'S GO DANCIN, one of four horses saddled by Feanny in the 10-horse field, was well away as her little fancied stable-companion MENTOR led early from the 99-1 outsider BLOOR AND BAY.
LET'S GO DANCIN raced close up, followed by this year's triple crown winner I'MSATISFIED, the 3-2 favourite and top weight DEPUTY'S REPORT and the bang in form imported mare GAILY DECORATED (3-1) bidding for her fifth consecutive win, not far off.
BLOOR AND BAY soon took over, but gave way to LET'S GO DANCIN leaving the half mile. She turned for home two lengths clear of the pack and when I'MSATISFIED and GAILY DECORATED began to loom as a team on the wide outside early in the last furlong, kept on strongly to hold the fast-finishing I'MSATISFIED at bay, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:24.2.
GAILY DECORATED ran a brave race under 57kg to finish 2 3/4 lengths, third. But DEPUTY'S REPORT, toting the crushing impost of 59kg and not the best drawn at post position one, could only manage fifth, while the recent Superstakes winner and 'Horse of the Year' contender MENUDO was sixth at odds of 9-2.
An American bred four-year-old filly by Gate Dancer out of Let's Go Too, LET'S GO DANCIN is owned by Argyll Investments Limited whose representative, Andy Campbell, said he was pretty confident of victory on the basis of the filly's preparation, her light impost and the presence of jockey Henry.
Indeed, Henry disclosed that up to late Tuesday evening he was expected to ride I'MSATISFIED but switched to the lighter horse LET'S GO DANCIN Wednesday morning on the trainer's advice.
"She was well prepared for this race and I had high hopes of winning," said the 1997 champion jockey. "I got her in contention from the word go and made the winning move from the half mile. After that, I knew they would have their jobs cut out to catch her up the lane."
A confident Henry said he felt he would have won with I'MSATISFIED had he elected to ride him instead.
As for his working holiday, the New York-based jockey who has been away since November of last year, save for a one-day stint last month on Superstakes Day, said he would continue to ride in Jamaica until mid-January when it was imperative he returns to New York.
"Everyone is glad to see me back home. But I have to make a U-turn and a B-Turn after the holidays," said the 25-year-old reinsman, who also won aboard the 7-2 chance BUTCHER MAN in the first race, 2-1 shot GALLANTRY in the fourth and 20-1 outsider MEADOW STAR in the seventh, the bay filly running on strongly from last position to catch and beat the Neville Anderson-ridden ESCROW (3-1) close home.
"My only regret was that I did not win with Restless Pirate, who is my favourite little horse," bemoaned Henry who passed the post third aboard the 7-y-o horse in the 10th race won by PROUDEST NATIVE, suffered interference and was promoted to second following the disqualification of the runner-up BOUND FOR GLORY.
