Dennis Coke/ Staff Photographer
FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE (Charles Hussey up) cantering away from long-time leader and favourite COURT CASE in yesterday's Track Price Plus-sponsored 2000 Guineas at Caymanas Park. The winner went off a 2-1 second favourite for the 1600-metre colts classic.Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
RUNNING on strongly between horses in mid-stretch, FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE won the $1.75 million Track Price Plus 2000 Guineas on a canter at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Ridden by champion jockey Charles Hussey for his brother Percy, FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE (2-1) racing in the colours of their mother Ruth, won by 2 1/4 lengths from 10-1 chance SIR DONALD under Kenyatta Davis, with a neck farther to 7-1 chance MEDIC ON BOARD with in-form jockey Hubert Bartley astride.
Fourth went to MEDIC ON BOARD's more fancied stable-companion YOUNG FOR ALL (3-1) with leading jockey Trevor Simpson riding for trainer Wayne DaCosta, while the even-money favourite COURT CASE with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths aboard was fifth in a maximum field of 16 native bred three-year-old colts and geldings.
Fleet-footed COURT CASE from the stables of Kenneth Mattis was early in the lead from the number one post position, but he was pressed by the "rabbit" PREFECT (99-1) from the Hussey stables, closely followed by another 99-1 outsider TUFF E NUFF and a three-length gap to ROYAL EXPEDITION, QUICK MEDIC and YOUNG FOR ALL with FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE racing among the backmarkers during the early stages.
COURT CASE opened up on PREFECT from the half mile but by the time they approached the final bend, QUICK MEDIC at 99-1 loomed large on his outside. He turned for home with QUICK MEDIC staring down his throat, with ROYAL EXPEDITION and SATISFIED not far off at this stage. But COURT CASE was unable to dispose of a pesky QUICK MEDIC approaching the distance. Then, all of a sudden FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE came out of the clouds.
After turning for home several lengths off the pace in sixth, FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE found his best strides. He closed rapidly on the leaders approaching the distance and thanks to the skill and precision of Hussey, was driven through a narrow gap between horses a furlong out.
Pulling clear in a flash, the sparingly raced bay gelding by Prime Rate Power s out of Marlee Barley was eased down by Hussey over the final 100 metres, otherwise he would have won by five lengths.
Bred by the Orange Valley Estates Limited, FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE was racing for the first time since finishing second to the subsequent 1000 Guineas winner SIMPLY MAGIC in the $2 million Jamaica Lottery Company 2-Y-O Stakes over the Guineas distance of a mile last Boxing Day.
Yesterday, FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE covered the distance in the sluggish time of 1:40.2 behind 23.4, 46.4 and 1.13.3, as against a brisk 1:39.0 returned by the Philip Feanny-trained SIMPLY MAGIC in the 1000 Guineas on Easter Monday. Indications are that both will not meet until the Red Stripe Derby in June.
Four-time champion jockey Hussey, who also rode last year's winner MILLIMETRE said:
"During the early stages of the race he was not only outpaced but despite my strong urging, was unable to improve his position. Still they went a fast half mile and as the race progressed, I was able to find a hole on the inside leaving the half mile. He exploded early in the straight and was cantering in the last furlong".
His brother Percy explained that FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE was not given a prep race because "he's a light framed animal who can't take races too close to each other. But he had been working well all along and I knew what I was doing," said the trainer who was saddling his second classic winner following the filly AERO STAR in the 2000 Jamaica Oaks.
Although out of luck aboard YOUNG FOR ALL, Trevor "Slicer" Simpson rode four winners to push his season's tally to 34, while trainer Richie Todd posted three winners. And the Jackson Hong-trained SIR MOHANDAS BABA (Hubert Bartley up) chalked up his third consecutive trophy race win when getting in the Legal Light Trophy over the circular nine course, this by a short head from the Simpson-ridden NEFTENGA.
