By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
ONE OF THREE: The vastly improved INSATIABLE, ridden by leading jockey Clive Lynch, lands yesterday's Caymanas Park feature for the Ash Wednesday Trophy ahead of FROMAJACKTOAKING (left) and the favourite WITHALLMYHEART (out of pic). INSATIABLE (6-1) was the second of three winners for trainer Richie Todd on the well-supported holiday programme. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
BACK IN action champion jockey Trevor Simpson stole the show at Caymanas Park yesterday, thanks to four winners from seven rides on the 11-race holiday programme which attracted one of the largest crowds of the season.
The man, popularly called "Slicer" by racing fans, reeled off the first two winners on the card the 4-5 favourite PITTACUS and RESTLESS PEGASUS at 5-2 to set the stage for a bumper day in the saddle.
Simpson came back to win the fourth race aboard 3-5 favourite BLACK THATCH and closed the programme with a runaway win aboard 2-1 favourite PALMETTO XPRESS, one of three winners for in-form trainer Richie Todd.
As a result of this four-timer, Simpson pushed his season's tally to 12 wins, only one adrift of the leader Clive Lynch who notched one winner, the vastly improved INSATIABLE in the day's overnight allowance feature for the Ash Wednesday, this over 1300 metres.
Simpson, who returned from a six-week stay in the United States late last week, is joint second in the standings with the suspended Ameth Robles. He is just waiting to quicken into the lead and possibly have a go at his single season record of 171 winners set last year (erasing George HoSang's long standing record of 167 set in 1974).
After taking over from the half mile aboard PITTACUS, Simpson appeared to have a lot in hand aboard the Anthony Nunes trained 3-y-o gelding when entering the straight a clear leader. Although still clear approaching the distance, PITTACUS shortened in deep stretch and had to be shaken up to win narrowly from the fast finishing outsider NAUGHTY BY NATURE.
Meanwhile, INSATIABLE turned in his best performance yet to win the Ash Wednesday Trophy by two lengths at odds of 6-1.
Trainer Richie Todd presented the 4-y-o son of Restless Thief/Instead of Roses so sharp that he raced a close up third from soon after the start as the 4-5 favourite WITHALLMYHEART led narrowly from PREMIER SOLUTION on the rails.
INSATIABLE went past PREMIER SOLUTION leaving the half mile and quickly mounted his challenge on the outside of WITHALLMYHEART.
He went through approaching the home turn and kept on strongly to win in decisive fashion, ticking off his third win from his last five starts. FROMAJACKTOAKING (7-2), who was outpaced a bit in the backstretch, stayed on well for second ahead of WITHALLMYHEART in a field of six.
On a day when Pick-9 activity reached fever pitch owing to a $6.7 million carryover from Saturday, the popular bet proved elusive for the 13th consecutive race day. As a result, the carryover to Saturday stands at a whopping $8.1 million.
With upsets coming via PRINCESS MAYESHA at 10-1 in the first of the nine races and FASTGETAWAY at 8-1, INSATIABLE was the final nail in the Pick-9 coffin. Still, five punters with eight of nine collected $81,363.
Todd, the trainer with most wins so far this season, pushed his tally to 17 after posting RESTLESS PEGASUS, INSATIABLE and PALMETTO XPRESS.
