Reid.. rode Young Summer. - File photoOrville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THERE seems to be no stopping YOUNG SUMMER this season.
After winning four of her last five races this season, the super fit 6-y-o mare rebounded from a near miss last Saturday to win the rescheduled Labour Day Trophy race (claiming $330,000 - $290,000) over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Ridden by ace lightweight Robert Reid, YOUNG SUMMER won at the attractive odds of 14-1.
Never far off the pace in fifth as AKIODA (9-1) led narrowly from STAR CREEK (5-1), CLASSIC ACCOUNT (3-1) and the 8-5 favourite RESTLESS PEGASUS, YOUNG SUMMER was produced on entering the straight in a field of 10.
Closing nicely approaching the distance, she disposed of AKIODA and RESTLESS PEGASUS (rails) leaving the furlong pole and held on well to thwart a late run from RICH BETTOR (2-1), winning by three-quarter length.
SIR KISSON LAL (11-1), who raced in touch entering the straight, stayed on to finish third, a farther half length away, while RESTLESS PEGASUS faded into fourth.
By Studdish out of Summer's Promise, YOUNG SUMMER is now the winningest horse so far this season with five wins. She is owned by Keith J. Williams and trained by veteran Charles Morrissey.
Meanwhile, leading jockey Trevor Simpson, having gone winless on the two previous race days, rebounded with a triple comprising 4-5 favourite ROYAL RUN in the 3rd race, 3-2 favourite QUEEN'S SYMPHONY in the 7th and 2-5 favourite PREACH PREACHER who extended her winning streak by going wire to wire impressively in the 9th. The two-time champion jockey thus pushed his season's tally to 58 -- 32 clear of closest rival Robert Reid who rode two winners, YOUNG SUMMER and THE SANDMAN at 6-1 in the opening race.
Also riding two winners were in-form Trinidadian Brian Harding and former champion Joe Buchanan, while among trainers Wayne DaCosta, Wilfred Chin and Steve Budhoo saddled two winners each.
TODAY's 11-race programme features the Owen Silvera Memorial Cup Starter Handicap 1 & 2 over 1600 metres and here GLORIOUS STAR, to be ridden by Trevor Simpson for leading trainer Wayne DaCosta looks the pick of the weights ahead of his front running stable-companion METEOR MAN in a field of six.
Other firm fancies -- FIASCO in the 2nd, COUNTER STORM over INVESTOLATOR in the 5th, PRINCE ADINO 7th, SELENA MYSTIQUE 9th and NO TEAR over CHOCOLATE SLEW 11th.
