- Michael SloleyThe Philip Feanny-trained RAKKADASH (Winston Griffiths) powers home ahead of MISS U.DOC (Robert Reid) to win yesterday's straight five feature for the G.A. 'Sarge' Bucknor Memorial Cup at Caymanas Park in record equalling time of 56.3.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
A TRACK RECORD equalling run by the Philip Feanny-trained RAKKADASH in the straight five feature for the G.A. "Sarge" Bucknor Memorial Cup was the highlight of yesterday's race meet at Caymanas Park.
Installed a 2-1 second favourite with leading all-time jockey Winston "Fanna" Griffiths in the saddle, the 4-y-o bay gelding by Exotic Traveler out of Forsaken stormed through approaching the distance to win by two lengths in the fantastic time of 0.56.3 (wind assisted), behind splits of 22.2, 45.0.
This equalled the long standing track record held by many-time champion sprinter EROS since September 21, 1991. Significantly, RAKKADASH is currently groomed by Cecil "Bengo Dee" Chambers who for many years was the groom of EROS, 'Horse of the Year' in 1994.
The betting made the fleet-footed 3-y-o colt COURT CASE an 8-5 favourite, but after disputing the lead in mid-track, weakened in the latter stages to finish out of the frame.
RAKKADASH, meanwhile, raced in close touch as the 50-1 outsider AWESOME MINISTER led on the stands' side from COURT CASE with highly fancied INSTRUMENTAL and SELENA MYSTIQUE on the far side racing prominently in the field of 11.
As they came out of chute on to the main track, RAKKADASH got into top gear in the middle. He quickened to lead approaching the distance and after racing clear leaving the furlong pole, kept on strongly to win by two lengths from fast finishing MISS U. DOC (5-1) who would have gone closer had she not been bumped into by COURT CASE on leaving the starting gate.
AWESOME MINISTER held on for third, ahead of 23-1 chance HARLEY BARLEY under outgoing champion jockey Charles Hussey. LADY HYDERABAD was a late non-starter.
RAKKADASH is owned by Joseph G. Duany and bred by the Y.S. (1955) Ltd.
Feanny had a second winner on the 10-race programme in his classy American bred 3-y-o filly SPIRIT OF JAMAICA (2-5 favourite) who looked awesome in landing the Starter Handicap 1 & II over 1500 metres by 11 1/4 lengths from PEACE AND LOVE to complete a hat-trick of wins.
Ridden by Kenyatta Davis, SPIRIT OF JAMAICA bided her time in fourth as her stable-companion PHAREAL vied for the lead with HEART THROB. Getting the rail run approaching the three, SPIRIT OF JAMAICA darted through and proceeded to turn it into a procession, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:31.0. She's now a ready made favourite for the Red Stripe Mile for imported horses on Superstakes Day, November 9.
Meanwhile, leading jockey Trevor Simpson rode three winners on the card to move to 135, needing 33 more to break George HoSang's 1974 all-time seasonal record.
Simpson was aboard the odds on favourites ROYAL GUARD and NUCLEAR POWER (both for trainer Richie Todd) in the first two races, as the 6-5 favourite OAKRIDGE for owner/trainer Richard Azan in the sixth race for three-year-olds.
Feanny, Todd and veteran Frank Parham with the outsiders LADY PHAEDRA (21-1) and MAC THE KNIGHT (14-1) shared the training honours on a day when LADY PHAEDRA provided the major upset in winning the fourth race in a driving finish from hot favourite FIASCO.
