Parish By V. Lloyd Simpson,
Contributor
A NUMBER of notable happenings prior to and during the Easter meets are stirring debate in the horseracing fraternity with considerable interest.
The first is the renewal of the Caymanas Track Limited's Board and the speculation which the subject - matter has induced, because of the seeming inordinate delay which has taken place.
The second is the surprise replacement of apprentice Ramon Parish by Charles Hussey aboard Awesome Power in the Courts Jamaica Oaks to be run in April 28. Hussey has confirmed the change.
It is understood that connections of Awesome Power are of the view that the young though aspiring jock may be a bit inexperienced to handle the filly, having allowed Wesley Henry aboard Heart Throb to take him wide in the Track Price Plus 1000 Guineas on April 7, despite winning easily in the end.
It is further understood that they were not exactly pleased with his performance aboard Fully Decorated last Saturday, the favourite. I gather from a fellow colleague that Hussey is sympathetic to Parish and hopes he'll not take it personal, recalling his similar experience in the early eighties when he was replaced aboard Spend A Buck in the Kentucky Derby by Angel Cordero.
As far as renewal of the CTL Board is concerned, Minister of State Errol Ennis promised in October of last year that he would name a new panel of members early in the new year.
It is now the fourth month of the year and the Minister's promise has not been fulfilled.
Informed sources in racing are saying that the Minister is having difficulty in naming a chairman to replace Danny Melville. in fact, two names have surfaced in racing circles, Neville Blythe (UGI Chairman) and Clovis Metcalfe (a noted breeder and bank official).
It is further understood that the other members have been named and have been approved by the Minister of Finance, but the names could not be confirmed: the people who could make the information available, preferring to be tightlipped.
A third subject-matter has to do with the continuing classics and whether any performance or performances may have arisen to provide a threat to either Awesome Power or Millimetre.
One thing is certain, and it is that now that Hussey is aboard Awesome Power, any defeat of the Patrick Chang-trained superpower is out of the question for the Oaks.
Notably, Goingtokansascity, a three-year-old colt by Exotic Traveler - Sweet Ruckus, a full brother to the 1996 horse-of-the-year and triple crown winner War Tone, trained currently by Wayne DaCosta, raised eyebrows by winning in the smart time of 59.1 over the round five course on Easter Monday. And it will be interesting to see how he develops in terms of the remaining classics.
