By Cliff Williams, Contributor
ZEEDON, ridden by apprentice Oneil Mullings, powers home ahead of 2-1 favourite RED GENERAl (left, Ameth Robles) and RESTLESS WARRIOR (Shane Ellis) in the J. W. 'Judge' Hardie Memorial Cup feature over a mile at Caymanas Park on Wednesday, completing a hat-trick on wins in the process. Trained by Robert Darby, the 7-y-o grey gelding won at odds of 8-1. - Carlington Wilmot /Freelance Photographer
IT IS the norm following a sponsored raceday of a certain magnitude that the customary review of the promotion is presented in this column with specific attention focused on administration, in terms of the conduct of the meet, the performance of the professionals and the horses as well.
There have been too many occasions in the past when many of these major promotions have been plagued with sundry problems that have detracted from the objective of the promoting company and even the sponsors, but the 25th staging of Superday will probably go down as one of the best ever both in terms of organization and the excitement generated. It is therefore a distinct pleasure to write a review almost devoid of significant negative factors.
EXPENSE OF STAGING CHAMPIONSHIP
With the expense of staging the traditional invitational Jockeys' Championship a prohibitive expense the promoters went for an innovation, in which each rider would be awarded points depending on finishing position in a Jockeys' Challenge with cash bonuses going to the top four.
The problem with this arrangement is that success is heavily biased towards the top riders and it is hardly likely that any of the lesser lights would attract the kind of horses to literally mount a serious challenge for the cash incentives.
With Deshawn Parker and Trevor Simpson amassing 61 points each and sharing $110,000 between them and with Winston Griffiths in third at $25,000, it looked a little iniquitous to be overpaying the well-heeled.
In addition, three first place winning commissions for Parker was $120,000, Simpson earned about $220,000, Griffiths picked up about $155,000 and, incidentally, Shane Ellis about $240,000. What this means is that some formula has to be found to spread the bonuses around a bit more giving more riders a realistic chance at earning some of the extra cash.
Now to the highlights of the race programme, which began in somewhat controversial circumstances. In the opener KING'S HIGHWAY was disqualified from first for making contact with his main rival YYESSBABY in the stretch drive. The fact of the matter is that KING'S HIGHWAY came off a true line under left hand whipping.
I suppose the Stewards deemed that it was at the crucial point when YYESSBABY was in the process of delivering what appeared to be a successful challenge when the interference took place. Still it was one of those decisions that could have gone either way since there was no objection lodged against the first by the second, who did not appear to lose ground.
The five featured races turned to be the ones generating most of the excitement as none yielded any winners that did not have to work for the major slice of the purse.
In the Red Stripe Mile odds-on favourite FORGOTTEN HERO was fully extended by stable companion METEOR MAN'S sudden return to form and was barely a length in front at the post.
I'MSATISFIED, at 1-5 was also fully extended after early interference and being forced to go five wide at the top of the stretch to secure a clear run. He could not settle the issue until 75 metres from home and this made for an exciting finish as INSATIABLE tried to make all and only failed by a length with little fancied three-year-old JACK DE PRINCE just a head behind.
Although the field for the Distaff could not be considered particularly strong, I thought the five-year-old grey mare ECSTATIC gave a wonderful display of front running under top weight to deny ZULU PRINCESS a second straight victory. ECSTATIC was having her first outing since early May of this year, and in fact was racing for the final time before going to stud.
The finish to the Breeders Stakes for juveniles brought the house down as it was not decided until the final strides with PERFECT TEN arriving in the last hop, although suffering interference on the inside 200 metres out. Runner-up HEARTOFAMAVERICK looked the winner for a long time as, from the distance, he was always going that little bit better than favourite LATONIA.
To sum up the results of the Superstakes is fairly straightforward. PITTACUS was the most improved horse coming into the race having scored two easy victories in preparation races in fairly spectacular times. His performances in the Classics (3rd Derby and St. Leger) earlier this year suggest that there is some class about him and he seems to be less highly strung these days.
GREAT RACEDAY
With no great pace early on it was almost a certainty that once PITTACUS started his final sprint before the others he would have lasted the distance. The favourite ROYAL RUN did not do anything wrong, its just that he simply could not give three kilos to PITTACUS and had to settle for second whilst, it is now clear that four time winner MENUDO has seen better days.
It was a great raceday and the debate has already begun as to what we are likely to see in the Gold Cup, the Harry Jackson and the Jamaica Stakes for two-year-olds next month.
