Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Sweet Survivor (No. 8) is pushed out by apprentice Dane Nelson to win the ninth race for the Labour Day Trophy over 1200 metres in a driving finish from The Barbarian (partly hidden), the favourite Galina Point (second right) and Risto-Cat (left) who finished a close-up fourth. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
APPRENTICE DANE Nelson produced the American filly SWEET SURVIVOR with a well-timed stretch run to win the Labour Day Trophy feature for high claimers in a driving finish at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Despite getting slowly into stride and being outpaced in the early stages, SWEET SURVIVOR, from the stables of leading trainer Wayne DaCosta got up in the nick of time to win by a length at odds of 7-2.
In second place was the recent runaway winner THE BARBARIAN at odds of 6-1. The fleet-footed eight-year-old gelding had only a neck to spare over 2-1 favourite GALINA POINT in third, while RISTO-CAT (5-1) finished another neck away fourth in the 12-strong field.
The Philip Feanny-trained GALINA POINT was ridden by claiming apprentice Andron Findley replacing the gelding's declared rider, fellow apprentice Dal Brown, who took a heavy fall from TOCUMEN in the early stages of the fifth race and had to be rushed to the first aid post badly shaken up.
RISTO-CAT also had a substitute rider in Clive Lynch as champion jockey Trevor Simpson, who is mourning the death of his father, reported sick after riding PHANTOM J in the opening race over the straight five course.
Significantly, Simpson was declared to ride only three horses on the holiday card, but this was reduced to two when MR. DUNN was declared a late non-starter in the fifth.
It was the speedy MILLENIUM PRINCESS (10-1) who led at a fast clip in the Labour Day Trophy, followed by THE BARBARIAN, LADY SHAKEERA, RISTO-CAT and GALINA POINT not far adrift on the inside.
GOOD HEADWAY
SWEET SURVIVOR, who was outpaced in the early stages, made good headway on the outside approaching the home turn and, although forced to come five wide, soon got into top gear.
By then, THE BARBARIAN had grabbed the lead and although stalked by RISTO-CAT and GALINA POINT on the inside a furlong out, hung tough until SWEET SURVIVOR produced a late burst widest of all to catch him in deep stretch.
Nelson said he was not given much instruction by the trainer, as he knew how to ride this particular horse, having partnered her to victory when she won her only previous race in July of last year and rode her to two second place finishes as well.
"The trainer said I was to break her sharply but she was left flat-footed at the start as a gate attendant was straightening her head when the gates opened. Because of this I was not alert with her at the start.
"However, I gradually let her pick up the momentum on the outside of the field and after coming wide into the straight and she changed to her right lead, I knew she would wear them down in the closing stages," said Nelson, who is a nephew of veteran lightweight jockey Robert Reid.
He added: "Right now I am injury free and very fit. If I get live rides I will get the job done and I would like to thank Mr. DaCosta for putting me aboard Sweet Survivor as he had other options."
A four-year-old bay filly by Boundary out of This Time Around, SWEET SURVIVOR is co-owned by Bruce Chin Yee and Member of Parliament Derrick Smith, who was on hand to receive the trophy from CTL director, Lincoln 'Happy' Sutherland.
NOTABLE UPSETS
On a day when apprentice Findley and Clive Lynch rode two winners each, the 10-race programme produced two notable upsets.
The first of these came in the second race where the Tensang Chung-trained CARNIVAL (Findley up) at 26-1 outfinished 11-1 chance JOHNNA-ANN to win the second race over 1500 metres for maidens in a driving finish.
Then in the fourth race for native bred three-year-olds, the 17-1 chance TWEEDSIDE, with Lynch astride, stormed through on the inside leaving the furlong pole to beat stable-companion and howling 3-5 favourite ESTOY LISTO by 3-1/2 lengths.
Lynch completed an easy double aboard odds-on favourite SIR ABBAS MANGAL in the closing race for $150,000 claimers, while Findley gained his second aboard 5-2 chance SIR CHARLES in the Stewards' room following the disqualification of first past the post NASATOLin the third race, this for causing interference to him in the stretch drive.
The 3-2 favourite NASATOL, with apprentice Kerry-Gayle Robinson riding for Wayne DaCosta, made all the running, but angled out into the path of SIR CHARLES from below the distance and held on by a length in a driving finish. However, their positions were reversed.
