I'MSATISFIED is eased down by four-time champion jockey Charles Hussey as he cruises past the winning post five lengths clear of stable companion HERECOMESFUDGIE in the $1 million Digicel Irish Jamaican Stakes over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. He won at odds of 5-2 in a field of six.
-Ian Allen photo
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
ILLUSTRIOUS SEVEN-YEAR -OLD gelding I'MSATISFIED romped the fourth running of the $1 million Digicel Irish Jamaica Stakes over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday, leaving in his wake his more fancied stable companion A KING IS BORN who could only manage fourth.
The start of the race was held up for almost 15 minutes when the reigning 'Horse of the Year' A KING IS BORN, bidding to win this race for the second consecutive year, broke from the starting gate minus jockey Winston Griffiths and cantered for almost 800 metres before stopping.
He was taken back to the start and after being tested by the vet was remounted by 'Fanna' Griffiths and reclaimed the No. 4 post position.
Despite all this, A KING IS BORN, the 3-5 favourite, broke winging and proceeded in front until he was joined by the hard ridden LIL' COUNTRY BOY under Shane Ellis approaching the 1000 metre pole. Both then hooked up in a blistering speed duel passing the half mile before A KING IS BORN opened up leaving the 600-metre marker.
LANDS A BLOW
He turned for home some two lengths clear but at this stage I'MSATISFIED, running at odds of 5-2 with four-time champion Charles Hussey aboard, was close enough in third to land a blow and the writing was on the wall, so to speak, for A KING IS BORN.
Getting into top gear from early in the straight, I'MSATISFIED blew past the stopping A KING IS BORN approaching the distance and moved away in a flash to win by five lengths from another Feanny-trained horse, HERECOMESFUDGIE (7-1) running on to beat COURT CASE (6-1) by three-quarters of a length for third in a field of six top-class horses.
He covered the distance in the smart time of 1:17.2 behind splits of 23.3 and a brisk 45.4 for the first half mile.
ROYAL RUN was declared a late non-starter and his rider, champion jockey Trevor Simpson, switched to stable companion JACK DE PRINCE who was outclassed by the genuine 'A1' horses.
Currently the leading all-time stakes winner with close to $15 million, I'MSATISFIED is owned by Joseph Duany, who also owns the runner-up HERECOMESFUDGIE, and trained by 13-time champion Philip Feanny who was upset by the circumstances under which A KING IS BORN was allowed to run after breaking loose at the start.
By The Medic out of The Peacemaker mare Midnight Angel, I'MSATISFIED chalked up his third consecutive win and his 25th lifetime.
The 2000 Triple Crown winner and two-time Caribbean Sprint Champion had previously won the Viceroy Trophy over 1800 metres on July 3 and the Prime Minister Stakes over 2000 metres on August 6 and is on course for the November 13 Red Stripe Superstakes rather than the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint. At this stage it could be said he is one of the top contenders for 'Horse of the Year', an award he won in 2002.
ELATED
Hussey was elated with the win and confessed he never though it would be that easy.
"Even if A King Is Born had not broken out before the race I would still have won," he said.
"They went at a scorching pace and when I realised I was in striking distance of the leader approaching the home turn, I was smiling from ear to ear. In the straight, he just blew them away and I would love to be given the opportunity to ride him again ... he's the real deal," said Hussey.
On what turned out to be a tough day for form players, the two other sponsored races on the 11-race programme saw the brilliant unbeaten 2-y-o colt KAMIR (made all) easily justifying favouritism with a fast-time runaway victory in the Digicel Cup over 1200 metres. Unbeaten in two starts, KAMIR, a bay colt by Prime Rate Powers out of Kamella, is owned and trained by Richard Azan.
KAMIR was ridden by Shane Ellis who had a second winner on the card in GOOD TO GO (6-5) in the opening race over 1200 metres. Also riding two winners was Paul Francis who had the leg over THE BARBARIAN and 8-5 chance BONNIEVIEW in the Sagem Maiden Trophy over 1400.
History-making female jockey Azel Cowie-Fung rode her first winner in years when she was awarded the last race aboard 2-1 chance WATERMELONMAN following the disqualification of the 9-5 favourite LADY PHAGWAH, ridden by Larris Allen.
