- Dennis CokeMILLIMETRE (left) ridden by Winston Griffiths, wins yesterday's Lotto Gold Cup at Caymanas Park.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
IN A driving finish involving three horses, last year's Triple Crown winner I'MSATISFIED, with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths aboard, held on grimly by a neck to win the 32nd running of the Lotto Gold Cup over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Offering the surprisingly good odds of 5-1 in a field of 14 top class horses, the 4-y-o dark bay gelding from the stables of champion trainer Philip Feanny, scrambled home just ahead of the very fast-finishing imported filly DIABLO FOREVER (7-1), who in turn had a nose to spare over the winner's more fancied stable-companion MILLIMETRE, the even-money favourite under leading jockey Charles Hussey.
Coming from the number one post position, I'MSATISFIED running under topweight of 58.0kg was never worse than third as the 46-1 outsider EXECUTIVE PROFILE led narrowly from another long shot, the Feanny-trained PERSONAL NEMESIS (40-1) who took over after the first 400 metres and proceeded to set a cracking pace.
I'MSATISFIED went in chase from the half mile at which stage EXECUTIVE PROFILE began to lose her position, with METEOR MAN showing up prominently and the newly crowned Caribbean Sprint champion COOL WATER (3-1) not far off, along with MILLIMETRE a bit outpaced and DIABLO FOREVER among the backmarkers.
I'MSATISFIED disposed of PERSONAL NEMESIS as they swung into the straight and although galloping strong in the lead approaching the distance, looked vulnerable when the three-year-old colt MILLIMETRE began to loom large, after being switched to the inside in mid-stretch.
But I'MSATISFIED was not to be denied, as under a strong ride from "Fanna" Griffiths throughout the last furlong, not only thwarted the challenge of MILLIMETRE, but just had enough to stave off DIABLO FOREVER who came flying between horses with in-form Panamanian jockey Ameth Robles astride.
The four-year old gelding by the Medic out of Midnight Angel is owned by Joseph "Fuggie" Duany and bred by Clovis Metcalfe.
This might just be I'MSATISFIED's last race for the season if trainer Philip Feanny has his way. When asked if the gelding will be back for the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup on Boxing Day, a race in which he will come face to face with 'Horse of the Year' MENUDO once again, a visibly upset Feanny said:
"Him can't beat me up to a mile and I can't beat him over a mile. But oono going to give him the 'Horse of the Year' award again".
Meanwhile, BLACK THATCH (6-1) made most to win the opening 2-y-o race over 1400 metres for the Sweet Ruckus Trophy, only to be disqualified following a Stewards' Inquiry and placed second and the race award to BOMBS OVER BAGHDAD (7-2) with whom she had interferred in the closing stages.
BOMBS OVER BAGHDAD was ridden by title chasing jockey Ramon Parish who kept his hopes alive for championship honours with a second winner on the 12-race programme evens favourite FIRST TRICK who made all in the fifth race. Parish thus moved to 76 winners, three adrift of Hussey who ride one winner in 2-1 favourite GANADOR the closing race.
The upsets were provided the Morris Powell-trained SUNDAY AND ONE, EL MATADOR at 27-1 in the Lotto Combo 7 Sprint Trophy and ATLANTIC PRINCESS at 7-1 in the 10th. Mikey Mattis saddled two winners in EL MATADOR and 6-5 favourite MR. METICULOUS.
