By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterIN A BREATHTAKING finish, MILLIMETRE responded to a determined ride from Neville "Briggy" Stephenson to beat two-time 'Horse of the Year' MENUDO by a short head in the second running of the Pepsi Challenge Cup over 1500 metres for top class horses at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Thousands of racing fans braved the inclement weather for the second leg of the Pepsi Magic II racing carnival which commenced on Friday. And they were not disappointed, as the feature provided a real treat.
MENUDO, without a victory in five previous starts this season, was installed a 7-5 favourite under in-form Trinidadian jockey Brian Harding and despite topweight of 57.0kg, the six-year-old chestnut by The Medic out of Making Peace ran a blinder in defeat to lose his second consecutive race by a narrow margin.
MILLIMETRE, on the other hand, was the fifth choice in the betting at 9-2.
It was the fleet-footed American gelding METEOR MAN (7-2) who broke well and proceeded to lead by a length from MENUDO in the seven strong field, followed by a three-length gap to the rank outsider ALEXDIMASTER (21-1) just ahead of MILLIMETRE biding his time in fourth.
MENUDO went by METEOR MAN leaving the half mile and turned for home two lengths clear of the early leader and also MILLIMETRE who came wide into the straight. But although looking the likely winner when full of running approaching the distance, MENUDO was soon challenged by MILLIMETRE running down off a true line leaving the furlong pole.
Thereafter, a neck and neck duel ensued with the 2001 Guineas and St. Leger winner MILLIMETRE just managing to gain the ascendancy from a very brave MENUDO in the final stride. METEOR MAN kept on for third, 3 1/2 lengths away.
A 4-y-o chestnut colt by Royal Minister out of the 1990 Oaks winner Millford Sound, MILLIMETRE is owned by the Classic Stables and trained by current champion Philip Feanny who posted I'MSATISFIED to win the inaugural running of this $800,000 graded race last year.
Harding made up for his near miss aboard Richard Azan's MENUDO when he came back to boot home the 8-5 favourite CAPTAIN BLIGH for owner Derrick Brandty and trainer Anthony Nunes in the closing 7 Up Sprint over 1300 metres (overnight allowance).
Running on strongly after COURT CASE had made most in the 16-strong field, CAPTAIN BLIGH won convincingly from the Feanny-trained RAKKADASH to record his fourth consecutive win.
Meanwhile, the Wayne DaCosta-trained ESPRESSO (1-2 favourite) made heavy weather of winning the Ting Classic over 1500 metres in a driving finish from FIASCO and long-time leader JUSTIFIED AWARD.
ESPRESSO was a chance ride for the 1997 champion jockey Wesley Henry, replacing leading jockey Trevor Simpson who sustained slight injury when 9-5 favourite AMERICAN HALO reared and decked him at the start of the fifth race.
He did not ride for the rest of the day and was left stranded on 127 winners, but still on target to break George HoSang's 1974 record of 167 winners in a season.
HoSang, meanwhile, was a guest of the Jamaica Racing Commission at Caymanas Park yesterday. Since last week he has been contracted by the JRC to teach race riding techniques to the 22 prospective apprentices at the Jockeys' School who are due to graduate in November.
