- Michael Sloley/Freelance Photographer
JODI KAY, running of odds of 4-1 with apprentice Andron Findley aboard romps the sixth race for maiden 3-y-olds over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. Winning by 4 3/4 lengths in muddy conditions.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
POOR VISIBILITY caused by persistent showers forced the last four races on yesterday's 11-race programme at Caymanas Park to be abandoned minutes after 4:00 p.m.
The decision was taken by the Stewards while the 15 horses slated to run in the eighth race over the straight five course were already parading behind the starting gate.
When the announcement that the remainder of the meet was abandoned came at 4:08 p.m., darkness had descended on Caymanas Park at that early stage and visibility was down to a minimum.
Despite the inclement weather which engulfed the Corporate Area and St. Catherine yesterday, the racing surface stood up well as usual and the first seven races progressed without any spills.
The performance of the afternoon was turned in by the April 5 Track Price Plus 2000 Guineas winner KING IS BORN who made all impressively in the Restricted Stakes for native and imported three-year-olds over 1500 metres, his final prep before the June 14 Red Stripe Derby.
Ridden by leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths for owner Hamark Farms and 13-time champion trainer Philip Feanny, A KING IS BORN cruised home by four lengths from his little fancied stable-companion HOOKEDONJAZZ who went off at odds of 99-1. Oaks winner NAUGHTY BY NATURE (lame) was declared a late non-starter, reducing the field to five.
A bay colt by Royal Minister out of the 1990 Derby winner Distinctly Native, A KING IS BORN has now won eight races from nine career starts, his only defeated coming against REAR ADMIRAL in the Jamaica Lottery Company 2-y-o Stakes over a mile last Boxing Day.
Trainer Gary Subratie and jockey Brian Harding highlighted the shortened programme, teaming up to win with 4-5 favourites PALMETTO XPRESS and GLOBALSTAR (made all) in the second and fifth races respectively.
The lone upset was provided by the Howard Jaghai-trained LADY SUNEETA at 11-1 in the fourth race for conditional $100,000 claimers over 1400 metres.
The 7-y-o mare, who won in a driving finish from the favourite BRAVADO, was a chance ride for top apprentice Paul Francis, replacing fellow apprentice Oneil Mullings, who was involved in a motor vehicle accident and failed to show.
