Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE 16-1 outsider SIR SASTRI BAHADUR and highly fancied LUCKI PLUCKI, both apprentice-ridden, won the respective sections of the divided one mile feature race for the Gladstone "Puckoo" DeSouza Memorial Cup (claiming $100,000) in driving finishes at Caymanas Park yesterday.
In Division I, SIR SASTRI BAHADUR, ridden by 3kg claimer Oneil Mullings for owner Howard Duncan and trainer Alfred Wright, won by 1 1/4 lengths from the fast finishing 2-1 chance MYBLUBELLE who in turn had a neck to spare over 5-2 chance SEEMELATER in a field of 12.
Fourth went to the 8-5 favourite DEALWITHIT who dissipated her chances by being slowly away. SILVER PATRIOT was declared a late non-starter at the gate (lame).
It was CHATTANOOGA STAR who made most of the running ahead of SIR SASTRI BAHADUR close up, followed by SEEMELATER and EXCHANGE ONLY (rider fell at the half mile) in close contention as well, with MYBLUBELLE not far off.
SIR SASTRI BAHADUR assumed the lead leaving the 600-metre pole and turned for home ahead of SEEMELATER cooking on the rails, but was able to hold her and bay in the drive. And when MYBLUBELLE began to close menacingly on the outside from below the distance, SIR SASTRI BAHADUR hung tough in the closing stages for a fighting victory.
A 7-y-o bay gelding by Sir Lal Bahadur out of Lady Radika, SIR SASTRI notched his second win from 11 starts this season. Back in February he scored a huge upset (99-1) over the circular nine course but his form coming into this race was unimpressive.
LUCKI PLUCKI, running at odds of 3-1 under top apprentice Paul Francis, won in much the same way, going through the leaders MEADOW STAR and CHAMPAGNE CREW approaching the three and staving off a renewed challenge from the 3-1 marginal favourite MEADOW STAR in the closing stages to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
LUCKI PLUCKI, a 7-y-o bay gelding by Schism out of Gypsy Queen, is owned by John Robinson and trained by George Villiers. This his first win of the season.
Meanwhile, champion trainer Wayne DaCosta highlighted the 12-race programme with three winners to increase his slim lead over many-time champion Philip Feanny who replied with two winners. Both have earned more than $7 million.
DaCosta posted PRETTYPRESUMPTUOUS (3-2) to win the fourth race over the round five course ahead of stable-companion and favourite WITHALLMYHEART (slowly away), the three-year-old gelding SWIM CAREFULLY at 5-1 in the eighth race over the straight five course and GLORIOUS STAR (3-1) who produced a long stretch run to win the 1800-metre overnight allowance in a driving finish from 24-1 outsider VIGILANTE.
Feanny posted ROYAL TIARA at 8-5 in the first and the two-year-old debutante ANGELENA, who outbattled long-time leader MR. DUNN (6-1) by a short head in a field of five youngsters.
