Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
SIMPSON
CHAMPION JOCKEY Trevor Simpson was in his element at Caymanas Park yesterday, ticking off four winners on the 11-race programme to widen his lead over closest rival Brian Harding in their championship race.
His winners were RAKKADASH at 3-2 for champion trainer Philip Feanny in the third race over the straight five course, SHANIA who made all impressively at similar odds in the fifth, 4-5 favourite ASTRO CRUNCH who scrambled home in a blanket ahead of PRIOR PARK and POLISH MARKET and OH NO GRANDPA at 3-1 in the closing race over 1100 metres.
As a result of this windfall, Simpson has pushed his season's tally to 65, seven ahead of Trinidadian Harding who took a break from the saddle yesterday, having returned home for a short stay.
DEWHURST STAKES
Simpson, however, had to play second fiddle aboard the highly fancied LAW LORD in the opening Dewhurst Stakes feature for native bred two-year-olds over 1300 metres, this won in fine style by the 3-5 favourite SUPER NATURAL, who is unbeaten in two starts.
The first of three winners for four-time champion jockey Charles Hussey, SUPER NATURAL disputed the early lead with LAW LORD before going through leaving the half mile. He turned for home some two lengths clear of LAW LORD and CHRISTMAS GIFT and kept on well to win by 3 3/4 lengths with CHRISTMAS GIFT finishing third in the six-strong field.
A chestnut colt by Alisios out of Unnatural, SUPER NATURAL is co-owned by Edmund Thomas, Alfred Lee and Wayne DaCosta who doubles as trainer.
Hussey also won the second race over 1100 metres aboard 7-2 chance THUNDER SQUAD for his brother Percy and their mom Ruth, as well as 2-1 favourite UNIQUE SELECTION for trainer Neville Cooper in the ninth race for maiden three-year-olds over 1820 metres, to hold down third in the standings with 44 winners.
Meanwhile, the course specialist MOTHER OF PEARL (5-1) made virtually all on the stands' side to win race No. 3 in the CTL Claiming series over the straight five course by a nose from another specialist, LADY SOLO at 10-1 with Peter Bryan aboard. Both finished less than a length ahead of Simpson's mount, BUTCHER MAN (3-1) who closed fast but late under top weight of 57kg in the 10-horse field.
MOTHER OF PEARL has now won three of her past four races. The six-year-old grey mare by Smokehouse Sam out of Windy's Land was ridden by lightweight jockey Anthony Baker for owner/trainer Dennis Lee.
MOTHER OF PEARL, along with NAVIGATOR at 7-1 and to a lesser extent QUEEN LITTLE SHOES at 9-2 ensured a Pick-9 carryover of $1.04 million. One punter with eight of nine received a cool $98,991.00.
