Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
BUTCHER MAN, one of three winners for in-form claiming apprentice Kerry-Gayl Robinson, moves away from the pack to win race number two in the CTL Claiming series over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. Trained by Patrick Fong, the 9-y-o gelding won at odds of 5-2. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
BUTCHER MAN, running at the generous odds of 5-2 with bang-in-form apprentice Kerry-Gayl Robinson astride, romped race number two of the CTL Claiming series ($180,000 - $160,000) at Caymanas Park yesterday, chalking up his second consecutive win in the process.
In the absence of champion jockey Trevor Simpson, who sat out day one of a two-day suspension, Robinson and title-chasing jockey Brian Harding shared the riding honours with three winners each on the nine-race programme.
Harding, a seven-time Trini-dadian champion jockey, seized the opportunity to make serious inroads into Simpson's lead. His three-timer, comprising 4-5 favourite PRETTY HILLY in the second race, HIGH CHASE at 6-5 in the third and MARVELOUS MINISTER at 3-2 (all favourites) in the seventh, pushed his season's tally to 51 - only three adrift of Simpson, who is seeking his fourth consecutive title this year.
DRIVING FINISH
Robinson, meanwhile, won aboard 4-5 favourite FROMRUSSIAWITHOVE, BUTCHER MAN in the eighth and CAUCHEE at 4-1 for champion trainer Philip Feanny in the ninth and final 1200-metre race for three-year-olds, this in a driving finish. The Patrick Fong-trained BUTCHER MAN raced prominently in third as hat-trick seeker SAID I SAID I (3-1) with Harding up led narrowly from 2-1 favourite NAVIGATOR.
BUTCHER MAN split the leading pair passing the 600-metre pole and after turning for home a length ahead of NAVIGATOR, quickened away from the pack approaching the distance to beat NAVIGATOR by 3 1/2 lengths. Third went to the rank outsider LADY SHALIMAR, closing late at odds of 69-1 with JIG YOUNG placing fourth at 8-1.
POWERED BY TUNDRA, highly fancied at 5-2, walked out of the starting gate and finished a floundering last, while ZEALOT (5-1) crashed into the dummy rails on leaving the starting gates, dislodging jockey Wesley Henry. Robinson, who has been riding in the peak of form since the start of this month, said he was always confident of winning.
"I knew he was the fittest horse in the field and that seven furlongs was an even better trip for him. This is a horse who seldom runs a bad race and on the last occasion that he won in February, he also completed a double," said the 23-year-old claiming rider who smiles from ear to ear whenever he rides a winner.
Robinson teamed up to win with BUTCHER MAN over 1200 metres on August 13. The evergreen 9-y-o gelding by Schism out of Virginia Belle is owned by Jelf Gray and bred by Orange Hall Stables Limited. This was his fifth win from 13 starts this season.
Lawrence Freemantle posted two winners in FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE and 5-2 chance TOO HOT TO TROT who won the fifth race over 1700 metres for $150,000 claimers by the proverbial city block.
Ridden by apprentice Douglas Badaloo replacing veteran jockey Michael Dixon who reported sick, TOO HOT TO TROT made all impressively, opened up a commanding lead into the straight (wide) and coasted home by 10 1/2 lengths from 19-1 shot RESTLESS RUFFLE.
