By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
Ellis.. rode three winners. - Dennis Coke
CHAMPION jockey Shane Ellis continued his good form at Caymanas Park with a three-timer on yesterday's 12-race card.
The Canada-based Ellis, now on winter break from Woodbine race track in Toronto, took his tally of winners to five in two race days following his double last Saturday. His three-timer included the 3-1 second favourite BISTRO who scored a narrow victory in the co-feature J.W. 'Judge' Hardie Memorial Cup over 1600 metres.
His other winners were WITHALLMYHEART in the fifth race for 2-year-olds over 1500 metres and PHYSICS BOOK in a 1000 metres straight event for starter handicap and overnight allowance.
Ellis' best ride came aboard BISTRO. Held up in fourth 800 metres out the Tensang Chung-trained five-year-old horse made steady headway from the 600 metres marker to straighten up two lengths behind early pacesetter VOLCANE, PRINCESS AKEEM and recent winner RAPIDASH.
RAPIDASH, with jockey Ramon Parish hard at work, pulled clear of VOLCANE 200 metres out but could not hold off the fast-finishing BISTRO who, under powerful urging by Ellis got up in time to win by a short head. RAPIDASH went off the 4-1 third favourite while the well-backed VOLCANE (5-1) was third.
The co-feature Rimsky Trophy ended in a 14-1 upset victory for the Andrew Nunes-trained KYLE'S DIVA with Neville Stephen aboard as even money favourite EMPERADOR ended up a disappointing fourth.
EMPERADOR ridden by visiting Barbadian jockey Simon Husbands made most of the running but surprisingly folded up meekly when challenged by the winner 500 metres out.
KYLE'S DIVA came into the final straight full of running and kept on well to win from DANCING FLAMES and DON FABULOSA. Stephenson had another winner in the 8-1 shot QUEEN M FRENCH who won the eight race, a maiden condition event over 1000 metres straight. Also riding two winners was Trevor Simpson who won the third and fourth races aboard INCISAL EDGE and CHIPPEWA.
Leading jockey Charles Hussey (80) notched one winner, INEVITABLE in the first, to stretch his lead over main rival Ramon Parish to four. Parish failed to ride a winner from three mounts.
