- Michael Sloley/Freelance Photographer
RUCKUS, ridden by Richard Mitchell, powers home in a driving finish from SELENA MYSTIQUE (outside) and AWRY to capture the Wayne DaCosta Trophy at Caymanas Park yesterday. The 7-y-o gelding was one of three winners for trainer Richie Todd.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
ONE-TIME CARIBBEAN sprint champion RUCKUS produced a tremendous last furlong run to win the round five overnight allowance feature for the Wayne DaCosta Trophy at Caymanas Park yesterday.
The commemorative race, contested by nine starters, was run in honour of the 2002 champion trainer. He posted a record 108 winners last season, becoming the first trainer to saddle 100 winners in the annals of local racing.
DaCosta, accompanied by his wife and teenage son, was a special guest of Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) in the Director's Room at Caymanas Park.
Although failing to win the race in his honour with 3-2 favourite THE BARBARIAN, the three-time champion (1984, 1996, 2002) did not leave Caymanas empty-handed thanks to a runaway win by odds-on favourite FLYING TIGER in the War Zone 3-y-o maiden race, this named after one of the outstanding horses conditioned by him in a career spanning 25 years. WAR ZONE won the Triple Crown in 1996 and was also named 'Horse of the Year'.
RUCKUS, offering odds of 2-1 with Richard Mitchell riding for in-form trainer Richie Todd, found himself outpaced in sixth position in the early stages as the fleet-footed AWRY (9-1) led at a fast clip from AWESOME MINISTER (5-1), MISS U. DOC and THE BARBARIAN. Also outpaced was the grey mare SELENA MYSTIQUE (5-1) under Kenyatta Davis.
AWRY was joined by the Ameth Robles-ridden AWESOME MINISTER entering the straight at which stage THE BARBARIAN improved nicely into third and RUCKUS mended with a ground saving run on the rails in fifth.
In the end, AWESOME POWER was collared by the strong running SELENA MYSTIQUE midway through the last furlong. And she in turn gave way to the fast-finishing RUCKUS, who after being switched from the rails a furlong out, barged through a narrow gap between horses in deep stretch for a thrilling victory.
RUCKUS won by half a length from SELENA MYSTIQUE who was three-quarters of a length ahead of AWESOME MINISTER, as AWRY faded into fourth. PREFECT was declared a late non-starter.
Owned by Cayjam, the consistent seven-year-old gelding by Exotic Traveler out of Sweet Ruckus (a full brother to The Barbarian), completed a sparkling three-timer for trainer Todd on the 11-race programme. His other winners were even-money favourite CLASSY TANYA in the third and FREEDOM CREST, a 9-5 favourite in the seventh race for apprentice riders.
Meanwhile, the three-year-old colt EPICTATUS (1-1) made an auspicious post-to-post debut in the Mercury Sprint co-feature over the straight five course in winning by 2 3/4 lengths from the 3-5 favourite BANJUHAR in a field of seven. By Domino Jack out of Jeweloftheheart, EPICTATUS is trained by Anthony Nunes for Barbadian owner Elias Haloute, both of whom had a second winner in GILNOCK (2-1).
The day's major upset came via SIR SASTRI BAHADUR at 99-1 in the sixth race over the circular nine course for $100,000 claimers. The seven-year-old gelding from the stables of Alfred Wright responded to a bustling ride from Andrew Thomas to beat the front-running favourite PALMETTO XPRESS in a driving finish.
