Simpson boots home four winners
published: Thursday | May 6, 2004

By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

JOCKEY TREVOR Simpson experienced a bitter-sweet day at Caymanas Park yesterday, the four time-champion booting home five winners to assume the lead from Shane Ellis in the standings, only to lose one via disqualification.

His winners were 2-5 favourite FLYING TIGER in the first race over the straight five course, STAR WITNESS a 6-5 favourite in the fourth, PRIME FURY (2-1) who completed a hat-trick of wins for trainer Richie Todd in the fifth and REGGAE RULES at the attractive odds of 9-1 in the sixth race over 1700 metres for maiden three-year-olds.

Having reeled off a four-timer, Simpson was installed an 8-5 favourite aboard MUSIC MASTER. But after passing the post first aboard the Philip Feanny-trained chestnut colt in the ninth race over 1100 metres for native bred three-year-olds (non-winners of two), MUSIC MAKER was disqualified and placed third following a Stewards' Inquiry, this for causing interference to 7-2 chance LADY LAMMTARRA when taking over the lead a furlong out, forcing apprentice Oneil Mullings aboard LADY LAMMTARRA to snatch up his mount down on the rails.

The race was awarded to the lightly-raced filly CANTA LIBRE who closed strongly from off the pace to relegate LADY LAMMTARRA to third (awarded second). Ridden by apprentice Andrew Nunes for eight-time champion trainer Kenneth Mattis, CANTA LIBRE was racing for the first time in 7 1/2 months.

DISQUALIFICATION

As a result of the disqualification, Simpson has a scheduled date with the Stewards next Tuesday at the Winchester Road offices of the Jamaica Racing Commission to answer chances of improper riding and indications are he will be slapped with yet another suspension. Earlier this season, he was banned for seven days for a similar offence, this having to do with the disqualification of GOINGTOKANSASCITY and the subsequent appeal being thrown out.

Simpson now leads the standings with 32 winners - three clear of Shane Ellis who failed to ride a winner on the 10-race programme.

Meanwhile, CRIMSON MAGIC (Clive Lynch up) easily justified 2-5 favouritism with a runaway victory in the day's circular nine feature for the 'Morty' Heron Memorial Cup confined to $210,000 - $180,000 claimers. The 6-y-o gelding was the first of two winners for trainer Todd.