By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
TROPICAL STAR, one of three winners for apprentice Dane Nelson, romps the 10th race at Caymanas Park yesterday. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
CHAMPION JOCKEY Trevor Simpson and the promising apprentice Dane Nelson shared the honours at Caymanas Park yesterday with three winners each on the 11-race programme.
Simpson, the leading jockey so far this season despite a six-week break overseas in January/February, booted home 1-2 favourite SIR KISSON LAL in the fourth, THE SANDMAN at 7-2 in the seventh and SWIM CAREFULLY at 2-1 in the ninth race over the straight for native bred three-year-olds, the last two for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta. Significantly all three won in driving finishes.
SIR KISSON LAL had to be hard driven from the top of the lane to repel a two-pronged challenge from LUCKI PLUCKI on the inside and TEMPUS FUGIT on the outside. And THE SANDMAN had to pull out all the steps to pip the luckless favourite DR. RSF (7-5) by a short head over the straight five course.
What's more, THE SANDMAN had to survive a Stewards' Inquiry. It appeared that the five-year-old son of Corsicana had caused grave interference to his highly fancied stable-companion FLYING TIGER (8-5) leaving the quarter pole, resulting in the latter almost going down. However, the result was allowed to stand when the head on replay of the race showed that it was FLYING TIGER who veered out into THE SANDMAN.
In the three-year-old race, Simpson's mount SWIM CAREFULLY (made most) had to be hard driven in the closing stages to stave off the fast-finishing favourite HERECOMESFUDGIE under Dane Nelson by a short head. As a result of this three-timer, Simpson has pushed his season's tally to 23 - three clear of Clive Lynch who was winless.
In contrast, Nelson had arm-chair rides aboard each of his winners, as he duly chalked up the first three-timer of his career.
The 19-year-old apprentice won the first race aboard 1-2 favourite PROCEEDACCORDINGLY, leading home the grey CASTAGNA ridden by his uncle, Robert Reid.
He came back to win the fifth aboard 17-1 outsider ARIZONA STAR, flooring the odds on 1-5 favourite PRODIGAL who was soundly beaten into second. Then he romped the 10th aboard 4-5 favourite TROPICAL STAR landing Division II of the Dr. David "Jack" Raddix Memorial Cup ($100,000 claiming) over the circular nine course to improve to fifth in the standings with 13 winners.
Claimed for $100,000 after the race, TROPICAL STAR was saddled by Robert Darby Jr.
Division I of the feature was won in similar fashion by another 4-5 favourite MEADOW STAR, ridden by top apprentice Paul Francis for trainer Arnold Rambally Jr.
Francis had a second winner on the card in evens favourite CHAMPION MELODY, who made most in the second to hold off Simpson's mount CRUCIAL SEASON.
