By Elton Tucker, Assistant Sports EditorLOCAL-BRED RIVER JORDON put the American INTERNET COMMANDER firmly in her place with an effortless victory in yesterday's Super People Janitorial Services-sponsored Ash Wednesday Trophy feature at Caymanas Park.
Ridden by Ameth Robles for trainer Kenneth Mattis and owner Arthur Hew, RIVER JORDON dictated the race from the off and won by a widening 3-3/4 lengths at the generous odds of 5-2 in the 1300 metres event.
As the starter let them go Robles went straight to the front with RIVER JORDON from post position eight where he was tackled immediately by Charlie Hussey aboard 4-5 favourite INTERNET COMMANDER.
The two jostled at the head of the nine-horse field for 400 metres before Robles eased his mount into a length lead approaching the turn for home. With Hussey working overtime to keep his overburdened top-weighted 3-year-old filly in the 23.2 x 46.3 x 1:11.4 splits, Robles cut loose in the straight as RIVER JORDON ran on strongly in the final 100 metres to leave his rivals well behind. The Restless Thief - QWI five-year-old gelding covered the distance in a smart 1:18.3. Lightly weighted FORMALLY GOLD at 4-1 ran past a weakening INTERNET COMMANDER to grab second by a neck from GOOD COMPANY (5/2) with the favourite settling for fourth.
TWO WINNERS
Champion jockey Trevor Simpson, returning from a seven-day suspension, picked up where he left off getting two winners on the nine-race programme.
His wins came aboard favourite DUBAI EXPRESS for trainer/owner Richard Todd in the fourth race over 1000m straight and 4-1 shot JAMAICA JADE in the seventh event maidens over the same course. The wins pushed Simpson's tally for the season to eight, four behind apprentice Oneil Mullings.
Mullings, who began the day on 11 wins, won the final race aboard 8-5 joint favourite ROYAL GUARD. Trained by Desmond Shand, ROYAL GUARD, a five-year-old mare by Royal Minister Honesty, won her first race in eight months on a common canter, clocking a fast 1:07.2 for the $140,000 claiming group.
There were no big upsets but punters still failed to corner the popular PIck-9. GOLCONDA (7/2) in the second, LADY SHAKEERA (7/2) in race three, NORAN BATMAN (7/2) in the sixth and seventh race winner JAMAICA JADE stumped many punters and the carryover to Saturday's card is $2,233,612.50. There was one winning ticket with eight of nine, the lucky punter collecting $182,308.
Earlier, the Hi-Five carryover ($232,271) failed to get past the seventh race with each winning ticket getting a payout of $10,419.00.
