Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
The 3-2 favourite TROPICAL STORM cruises home under in-form champion apprentice Paul 'Country' Francis in yesterday's Caymanas Park feature race for the Henry George Harrison Sr. Memorial Cup over 1300 metres. She was one of two winners for trainer Wayne DaCosta. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
TRINIDADIAN JOCKEY Brian Harding highlighted yesterday's 10-race programme at Caymanas Park with three winners, two for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes.
His winners were SOY MUJER at 8-5 in the fourth race over 2000 metres for maiden three-year-olds, the improving three-year-old filly LA REINA (2-1) in the fifth race over 1400 metres and 8-5 chance BACHELOR OF ARTS in the sixth race for maiden four-year-olds and up over the straight five course.
SOY MUJER and LA REINA are trained by Nunes for Barbadian owner Elias Haloute.
LA REINA, who completed a hat-trick of wins, had to be hard driven in the closing stages to overhaul the highly fancied MUSICAL MAESTRO (5-2) stealing home under Ian Spence, winning by half a length in the fairly good time of 1:25.3.
SUFFERED INTERFERENCE
Harding also had to dig deep in order to win aboard the Owen Sharpe-trained BACHELOR OF ARTS. The four-year-old filly suffered interference when she was bumped at the start and lost ground as a result.
Although outpaced and denied a clear run in mid-track for the first 600 metres, as the event's favourite LIGHTNING BINGO enjoyed a clear lead over the well-backed ARDRIGH. BACHELOR OF ARTS fairly flew when she saw daylight in the last furlong to tag LIGHTNING BINGO in the closing stages.
As a result of this three-timer, Harding has pushed his season's tally to 29 eight adrift of champion jockey Trevor Simpson who sat out day three of a five-day suspension yesterday.
Charles Hussey, who is third in the standings, won aboard the improving 4-y-o grey gelding NASATOL (3-2 fav) for leading trainer Wayne DaCosta to remain in touch of the leaders on 26 wins, with champion apprentice Paul Francis holding down fourth position on 25.
Francis won the day's restricted allowance feature race over 1300 metres for the Henry George Harrison Sr. Memorial Cup (non winners of two) aboard the 3-2 favourite TROPICAL STORM.
The four-year-old filly by Royal Minister out of Economic Sensation was outpaced in fifth position as ANCIENT SOUL (14-1) and SWEET CHARMAIN (5-2) carried the field into the straight.
SWEPT PAST LEADERS
TROPICAL STORM straightened several lengths off the pace in fourth and closing rapidly on the rails, swept past the battling leaders SWEET CHARMAIN and ANCIENT SOUL early in the last furlong to win by 4 1/2 lengths.
VELOCITY (4-1), who walked out of the starting gates in the eight-strong field, closed sharply from last position to finish second, while the 8-5 second favourite ROBICON, who failed to go the early pace, stayed on for third.
TROPICAL STORM was saddled by top trainer Wayne DaCosta for leading owner Alexander Haber. She was one of three favourites to score on a day when SHADE OF JADE and HIGH GRADE, both at 5-1, and HONEY BEE, at 9-2 in the first race, provided mild upsets.
Back-to-form apprentice jockey Dane Nelson rode two winners in RASTAMANIA (3-1, made all) for trainer Wesley Perkins and SHADE OF SHADE for Richie Todd to enter the top 10.
