Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterGARY SUBRATIE was the toast of Caymanas Park yesterday, the second generation trainer posting the first triple of his career from six runners on the 10-race programme.
His winners were the fleet-footed imported filly U.S. ONE at 2-1 in the third race over 1100 metres, HONEY BEE at 11-1 in the fourth race for $320,000 - $270,000 claimers over the straight five course and 9-5 chance POINT TAKEN in the sixth race, also over the straight.
Subratie, who won four races with PRINCE OBERON (twice) and DR. JOHN (twice) as an apprentice jockey in the late 70s, is the son of owner/trainer Errol Subratie. After lengthy stints in Florida and England, he returned home and started training in 1998, notching his first winner, ROYAL INVITATION, that same year.
In 2002, Subratie capped the Most Improved Trainer award by virtue of saddling 19 winners. Yesterday's windfall has pushed his season's tally to 18, enabling him to hold down seventh position in the trainer's standings with $4.1 million. Amid congratulations, the 40-year-old conditioner had this to say:
"I have saddled two winners on several occasions but the triple has always managed to elude me, until today. I am happy it has come at last, but for me it's all in a days work.
SOMETHING NEW
"Everyday I learn something new in the profession and there's never a dull moment when dealing with horses. But I am equal to the challenge and looking ahead, would like to saddle at least 40 winners which would be double the 19 winners I had in 2002 and again last year".
Meanwhile, the 4-5 favourite GALAXY GIRL responded to a copybook ride from top apprentice Paul 'Country' Francis to win the day's Restricted Allowance IV feature for the Gerald Farquharson Memorial Cup over 1400 metres, this in a driving finish from BLOW WIND BLOW (7-2) and highly fancied PRINCE NATHANIEL (9-5).
Fastest away in the eight-strong field, GALAXY GIRL was held back into position as PRINCE NATHANIEL opened a commanding lead into the straight. But under a good ride from Francis, the 4-y-o filly closed strongly on the rails to overhaul him midway the last furlong, holding on by a neck from the fast-finishing BLOW WIND BLOW with PRINCE NATHANIEL finishing a farther neck away in third.
The winner, a 4-y-o bay filly by Natural Selection out of Zoe, is owned by Count On Me and trained by Roy Shields.
Leading jockey Trevor Simpson (Chamba Koo, Jack De Prince) and arch rival Shane Ellis (Le Chic, Honey Bee) had two winners each, Simpson moving to 48 in the standings. Trainer Patrick Fong saddled two winners in Chamba Koo and Red Lady at 8-1 in the closing sprint for $140,000 claimers.
