SPIRIT one of two winners for jockey Wesley Henry wins the sixth race over 1100 metres for maiden 3-y-o in decisive fashion at Caymanas Park yesterday. The filly is trained by Philip Feanny -Rudolph Brown photoOrville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE 9-5 FAVOURITE BANJUHAR produced a devastating last furlong run to win yesterday's Caymanas Park feature for the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association of Jamaica Trophy over 1400 metres in a driving finish from long-time leader SHE'S A RANKING.
Ridden by Larris Allen for owner/trainer Richard Azan, the 3-y-o bay gelding got up in the nick of time to win by a neck from 9-2 chance SHE'S A RANKING under Clive Lynch in a field of 15 native-bred three-year-olds.
In third place, a farther 4 3/4 lengths away, was the 42-1 outsider CRUCIAL SEASON while fourth went to JERICHO, highly fancied at 3-1. VAMANOS AMIGA was declared a late non-starter at the gate.
SHE'S A RANKING disputed the early lead with the well backed BADBOYBIN (5-1), before SHE'S A RANKING went on from the half mile at which stage BANJUHAR was nearer last than first after missing the break.
SHE'S A RANKING turned for home two lengths clear of CRUCIAL SEASON and BADBOYBIN. But although looking to have the race at her mercy when still clear and full of running in mid-stretch, she was caught napping close to home by the very fast-finishing BANJUHAR on the inside.
This was BANJUHAR's second win from nine starts this season. However, since finishing three lengths third to A KING IS BORN in the Track Price Plus 2000 Guineas on April 5, he had been a source of disappointment with lacklustre displays in the Lotto Classic and Red Stripe Derby, before redeeming himself yesterday. He is by Pat N Jac out of the Exotic Traveler mare Alejandra.
Earlier in the afternoon, top juvenile CRUCIAL POINT kept his unbeaten record intact with an all-the-way victory in the Keeling Memorial Cup supporting feature over 1100 metres for native bred two-year-olds.
Ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, CRUCIAL POINT won by three lengths from the debutante TOTAL MOTION to be unbeaten in four starts.
The trainer and jockey combination had a second winner on the 11-race programme in PRETTYPRESUMPTUOUS at 5-2 in the 10th, Simpson pushing his season's tally to 67.
Former champion jockey Wesley Henry also rode two winners in KERMIT (2-1) and the Philip Feanny-trained filly SPIRIT at 7-2 in the 3-y-o maiden race, while trainer Richard Todd posted two.
ONE SON, the first official winner for apprentice Dave Badaloo, provided the day's only upset at 11-1 in the fourth.
