Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
( L - R )SIMPSON AND HARDING - FILE PHOTOS
THE ONGOING battle for the 2005 jockeys' title between reigning champion Trevor Simpson and seven-time Trinidadian champion Brian Harding, grew even more intense at Caymanas Park on Saturday when both finished the day hooked up on 88 winners.
With nine racedays remaining, the bets are on as to who will win and from all indications this one will go down to the wire.
Both jockeys are focused on the task at hand and neither is giving anything away. They have zipped up their mouths as well, refusing to talk to the press about their chances.
Watching them in the vicinity of the Jockeys' Room of late, their eyes are set on the prize. Both champions in their own right, it could come down to who wants it more.
With little to choose between the two jockeys, it will hardly be riding ability that settles the argument. I think it will come down to who is stronger mentally.
Already, the battle lines have been drawn by the supporters of both jockeys.
A fight almost broke out in the stands between opposing camps after the running of the eighth race. It was felt by Harding's supporters that Simpson, aboard the winner MUSICAL MAESTRO (3-1), used clever riding tactics against Harding, aboard the favourite PRECOCIOUS MISS when riding him wide from the three-furlong point.
Simpson has been summoned today by the Stewards at the Winchester Road offices of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) to explain his riding aboard two horses on Saturday's programme.
Simpson, aboard MUSICAL MAESTRO on the inside of PRECOCIOUS MISS D, drifted very wide at the home turn, which resulted in Harding's mount being forced out wide also (or into the next parish as they say) and continued to drift out his mount into the straight, thus making things uncomfortable for Harding on the wide outside.
QUICKENED NICELY
In the end, MUSICAL MAESTRO quickened nicely to catch long-time leader ZICKWARTY in the last 100 metres, winning by a length. However, MUSICAL MAESTRO had to survive a Stewards' Inquiry.
This prompted a top 10 trainer (and Harding supporter) - who requested anonymity - to say: "While I believe he is well capable of outriding Simpson for the title, he cannot beat Simpson and the Stewards combined."
A line of argument is being promoted by Simpson's supporters that it would be unthinkable for a foreigner to come here and win the title at the expense of a Jamaican.
That precedence has already been set. In 1970, Panamanian jockey Jose Bravo won the title though in a dead-heat with star apprentice Richard DePass.
DePass was forced to ride the race of his life aboard a horse by the name of WALLY GOLD to win the closing race on the Boxing Day card by a short head to share the title. Both ended with 53 winners.
The way things are shaping up, history could well repeat itself on the final raceday, Saturday, December 31.
