Impressive win by Dixie Flyer

- Rudolph Brown

Odds on favourite INSTRUMENTAL (left, Kenyatta Davis up) beating CLASSY TANYA (Wesley Henry) by a head in yesterday's 800 metres straight event for 2-y-o's at Caymanas Park. Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter

APPRENTICE Devon S. Thomas yesterday pushed trainer Michael Silvera's fit five-year-old mare, DIXIE FLYER, to her second straight Overnight Allowance win at Caymanas Park.

Sent to post a 2-1 second favourite in the 1100-metre 10th race, the bay mare left the gate prompting the pace but was taken in hand by Thomas as favourite GOINGTOKANSASCITY and 11-1 outsider CATCH THE RUMOUR disputed the lead.

Stalking on an easy rein, DIXIE FLYER moved up to split Wayne DaCosta's GOINGTOKANSASCITY and CATCH THE RUMOR two-and-a-half furlongs out. Full of running off the turn, Silvera's stable star pulled off from GOINGTOKANSASCITY at the top of the straight and streaked away for an easy five-length win.

GOINGTOKANSASCITY stayed on for second, no match for the mare, who clocked an impressive 1:05.3, exactly two weeks after posting a speedy 1:19.0 at 1300 metres on Derby Day.

THE SANDMAN, GOINGTOKANSASCITY's stable companion, finished third in a field reduced to seven after METEOR MAN was again scratched at the gate for fractious behaviour.

Thomas' win with DIXIE FLYER completed a double for the two-kilo claiming rider. He had earlier piloted Howard McLeod's SIR RAMNATH GUPTA to a well-timed victory over Ramon Parish-ridden MR. LOVER LOVER in the 1800-metre third race.

Held off fast splits set by 4-5 favourite MR. LOVER LOVER and much-touted 9-5 second choice KING RICHARD, reporting from a 15-month lay-up, SIR RAMNATH GUPTA reeled in MR. LOVER LOVER approaching the furlong pole and stayed on stronger at the end for a one-length win.

Thomas' double moved his tally to 30 winners at the season's half-way mark but he had to share the day's riding honours with leading jockey Wesley Henry and back-to-form Kenyatta Davis, who also had two winners apiece.

Henry, who started the day on 49 wins, two clear of nearest rival Parish, jumped to 51 with wins aboard NO TEAR in the second and INVESTOLATOR in the ninth.

Parish, for the fourth consecutive race meet, failed to unsaddle a mount in the winners' enclosure. Not winning a race since POWER AND GLORY on Derby Day.

Davis denied Henry a three-timer with a narrow win aboard Jose Pinchin's two-year-old, INSTRUMENTAL, in the 800-metre straight fifth race. His mount actually jumped a water puddle approaching the quarter-pole but recovered to stave off Henry astride CLASSY TANYA by a head.

Davis' other winner was PRINCE ADAM in the 11th, running on strongly to tag Parish, trying to steal home with BLOODLUST at 1000 metres straight.

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