By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
SELENA MYSTIQUE, ridden by Kenyatta Davis for trainer Garrett Arscott, tags the leader BUCHKEISHA (D.S. Thomas) to win the Knutsford Park Cup over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. The 3-y-o filly was a 2-1 second favourite in a field of 15 three-year-olds. - Dennis Coke
REPORTING FRESH as a rose from a five-month layoff, SELENA MYSTIQUE wore down the leaders in the straight to win the Knutsford Park Cup 1200-metre feature in fine style at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Installed a 2-1 second favourite with Kenyatta Davis aboard, SELENA MYSTIQUE was unable to go the early pace in sixth position as 62-1 outsider GENTLE RIVER CAT led from VICTREEBEL, BUCKEISHA, BLOODY MARY and LADY CHAMELI with the 8-5 favourite LADY CHATURA surprisingly outpaced passing the half mile.
BUCKEISHA (5-1) assumed the lead from GENTLE RIVER CAT as they swung into the straight, but by then SELENA MYSTIQUE was not far off.
Running up strongly from below the distance, she caught up with BUCKEISHA midway the last furlong and quickened away to beat her by 1 1/4 lengths.
GENTLE RIVER CAT held on for third, a farther 3 1/2 lengths away, while BLOODY MARY at 4-1 was fourth and LADY CHATURA running below expectations for sixth place. AIN'T JOKING gave no end of problems to enter the starting and was declared a late non-starter, reducing the field to 15.
A 3-y-o roan filly by Liver Stand out of Sign & Seal, SELENA MYSTIQUE is owned by Sugar and trained by Garrett Arscott.
Earlier on the 11-race programme, INCISAL EDGE (7-1, made most) and 4-5 favourite FATHER ANTHONY (made all) won the respective divisions of the Drumbeat Trophy straight five claiming ($100,000 claiming) in decisive fashion.
Ridden by in-form apprentice Valentino McBean for owner/trainer Michael Beecham, INCISAL EDGE held on by a length from POWER AND GLORY (7-2), while FATHER ANTHONY with apprentice Devon S. Thomas riding for trainer Eraldo Fullerton, held off the fast-finishing TEMPUS FUGIT (9-1) by a length and a half.
Leading jockey Wesley Henry rode two winners in 8-5 favourite LORD LUKE and 2-1 chance RESTLESS WARRIOR (both making all) to push his season's tally to 73 - nine clear of closest rival Ramon Parish who did not ride yesterday.
Also riding two winners were D.S. Thomas (Queen Hill, Father Anthony) and McBean (Rapidash, Incisal Edge).