Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
GOOD COMPANY, ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, outfinished the highly fancied American filly HEDIA'S PROSPECT to win yesterday's overnight allowance feature for the Frankie Frazer Memorial Cup over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park.
Installed a 4-5 favourite in a field of eight, GOOD COMPANY was never far off the early pace for the first 500 metres but was denied a trouble-free run on the inside from the half mile and was left behind by the leaders QUICK MEDIC (44-1) and RUCKUS (19-1) when the pace quickened, with ZAHBO (7-2) and the 6-5 second favourite HEDIA'S PROSPECT under Charles Hussey racing in touch at that stage.
However, Simpson was not perturbed aboard the favourite. With QUICK MEDIC carrying them comfortably into the straight and HEDIA'S PROSPECT forced to come wide with her challenge, GOOD COMPANY was produced with a ground-saving run on the rails into the straight. He was driven past QUICK MEDIC leaving the furlong pole, then kept on strongly to hold top weight HEDIA'S PROSPECT at bay on the outside by 1 1/2 lengths.
This was his second win from nine starts this season. However, he has been a model of consistency in that he has not finished out of the frame in his past 11 starts. Bred by Dr. Francis Barnett, the 4-y-o bay gelding by Pat N Jac out of Pleasant Company had previously won over 1300 metres on January 3 and later finished second to COURT CASE over the same distance on March 24.
GOOD COMPANY is co-owned by Edison Chai, David Phillips and Dr. Barnett who said: "He had trained really well for this race and while he had not always had the best of luck in running, this race was made to order for him and he made no mistake".
IMPRESSIVE FORM
Meanwhile, leading trainer with most wins this season, Richie Todd, maintained his impressive form by posting three winners on the 10-race programme.
These were the even-money favourite RUNDUMPLINRUN under Simpson in the second race where she led home stable-companion KERMIT, LOGICS at 5-1 in the eighth and FRENCH MINISTER at 5-2 in the closing race for $140,000 claimers. All three were ridden by different jockeys.
As a result of this three-timer, Todd has pushed his win tally to 32 - three ahead of Wayne DaCosta who is the season's leading trainer in stakes with more than $10.2 million. Todd holds down fourth place in stakes earnings with $8.1 million.
SIX WINNING FAVOURITES
The card produced six winning favourites in Richard Azan's 2-y-o colt COLTRANE in the opening race, RUNDUMPLINRUN, ZAMA, ABILITY GIRL, GOOD COMPANY and super fit LADY KAMPOOR who repeated her recent runaway victory over a mile in the seventh race, clocking the identical time of 1:42.3 and also the same splits. The seven-year-old mare is trained by Barrington Rambally whose younger brother, Arnold, posted the 7-2 chance NIJINSKY'S WAR to win the fourth race over 1400m for maiden four-year-olds and up.
Barry and Arnold also posted a winner each on Labour Day (May 24) - LADY KAMPOOR and LADY WAHEEDA respectively.
Jockeys Richie Michell (Ability Girl, Crop Over), Shane Ellis (Coltrane, Zama) and Trevor Simpson (Rundumplinrun, Good Company) shared the riding honours with two winners each, Simpson moving to 42 to maintain a two-length advantage over closest rival Ellis in the standings.
