By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterFORMER CHAMPION jockey Shane Ellis highlighted yesterday's nine-race programme at Caymanas Park with three winners, his second in successive race days.
The second generation jockey won aboard 8-5 favourite GOLCONDA in the fifth race for maiden three-year-olds, DR. R.S.F. at 2-1 in the seventh and SWEET JADE, a 9-5 favourite in the closing circular nine race for four-year-olds and up.
Ellis, who had been riding with fair success at Woodbine racetrack in Canada before coming home some weeks ago to ride locally, missed out on a fourth winner when highly fancied HARLEY BARLEY (3-2) was beaten by the 5-1 chance WHITE WATER in the Reca Trophy feature (claiming $260,000 - $220,000) over 1400 metres.
Prior to this race there was a heavy downpour. The sudden change in the state of the going (sloppy) suited the bold front running tactics of WHITE WATER who went wire to wire under top apprentice Paul Francis. The race was also run in poor visibility which threatened to curtail the meet.
Happily, the rain ceased some 15 minutes after and with the visibility improving considerably as well the last three races were run as scheduled. WHITE WATER is owned by Kissimmee and trained by Richard Donaldson.
Ellis, champion jockey in 2000 when overtaking the injured Andrew Ramgeet in the closing weeks of the season, has now ridden 30 winners this season to hold down eighth position in the standings. He is the son of former three-time champion Winston "Dozer" Ellis.
The day's supporting feature for the Lester Saunders Memorial Trophy over 1400 metres for native bred maiden two-year-olds, saw the 1-5 favourite TOTAL MOTION making a smashing debut under champion jockey Trevor Simpson.
Owned by Esteban and trained by reigning champion Wayne DaCosta, TOTAL MOTION made all, moving away from SELECT PRINCESS on entering the straight to win by 8 1/4 lengths from 7-2 chance DRAW CARD in a field of six. The winner is a bay filly by Royal Minister out of the Gentleman Jinsky mare Pizzaz. With the card attracting moderate support, the Super-6 and Pick-9 (both supplemented by carryovers) were cornered. There were two winners of the Pick-9, each receiving $795,953.50, and 44 winners of the Super-6 of $28,523.00 each.
