- Michael SloleyAWESOME POWER, ridden by leading jockey Trevor Simpson, slams her four opponents to win the Nigel B. Nunes Memorial Trophy race over the circular nine course, in sloppy conditions, at Caymanas Park yesterday. Simpson had a second winner on the card in SUMO to reach 126 for the season.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
LAST YEAR'S Oaks, Guineas and Derby winner, AWESOME POWER, romped yesterday's circular nine feature for the Nigel B. Nunes Memorial Trophy at Caymanas Park, powering home by a dozen lengths from highly-fancied PEACE & LOVE.
Ridden by leading jockey Trevor Simpson for the first time, the classy 4-y-o filly from the stables of Patrick Chang thus made amends for her rotten luck in this very race last year when, as the 1-2 favourite, she lost an iron at the start, forcing jockey Charles Hussey to ride her Indian style throughout, eventually finishing third to METEOR MAN.
Yesterday, AWESOME POWER was again installed a 1-2 favourite, but this time it was smooth sailing under the top weight of 57kg.
She bided her time in third position as rank outsider MINISTER ON WHEELS led in the early stages from 2-1 chance RATIFIED who took over after 400 metres in the field of five.
AWESOME POWER started her winning run when going second leaving the five and was soon challenging the grey mare RATIFIED for the lead. Disposing of her from the half mile, AWESOME POWER raced into a clear lead to turn for home about five lengths clear of RATIFIED and PEACE & LOVE jointly in second position, then skittered away in the straight for an emphatic win.
With this victory, AWESOME POWER has raised her stocks for the prestigious Red Stripe Superstakes to be run over 2000 metres on November 9.
Cedric Hyde, representing owners Mercedes Gold, feels the bay filly by The Medic out of Angel of Love has solidified her position for the Superstakes, a race in which she finished a floundering last in 2001.
"I was impressed with the manner in which she won today," said Hyde. "Her time (1:56.0) was fairly good and I think she is approaching her best once again. We are keeping our fingers crossed that she remains healthy. She's a class filly who can rise to any occasion on the day," he said.
Meanwhile, the massive Barbadian bred 7-y-o gelding OWEN TAYLOR also defied top weight of 59kg to win the Stakes & Starter Handicap 1 for three-year-olds and up in decision fashion.
OWEN TAYLOR, who will be aimed at the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint on Superday for the third straight year, made all to win by 1 1/2 lengths with in-form Trinidadian jockey Brian Harding aboard.
For a stride or two early in the straight, the chestnut gelding by Nosferatu out of Tailor of Soham looked in danger from the lightly weighted GOINGTOKANSASCITY hunting a four-timer, but found extra to leave the issue beyond doubt.
OWEN TAYLOR, physically the largest horse in training standing 17 hands, is owned by former Barbados Senator Sir Charles O. Williams and trained by Andrew Nunes. Last year, OWEN TAYLOR finished second to a fast-finishing COOL WATER in the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint and Nunes is hoping that he will be third time lucky.
Meanwhile, the debutante SADALMELIK (made most) created a 12-1 upset in winning the round five Winnie Anglin Memorial Cup for maiden two-year-old fillies by three lengths from 2-1 chance CHAMPION MELODY and the 4-5 favourite LOOK AT ME, a stable-companion of the winner. A bay filly by Pat N Jac out of Jewel Garden, SADALMELIK was ridden by Kenyatta Davis for Leeson Stables and trainer Richard Azan.
Simpson and Brian Harding shared the riding honours with two winners each, Simpson moving to 126 winners which keeps him ahead of the required pace to break George HoSang's 1974 record of 167 winners in a season.
Harding, meanwhile, moved to 60 winners to be a clear second in the standings. And Azan posted two winners in SADALMELIK and TOCUMEN at 7-1.
