Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Unleaded (No.6) is hard driven by Paul Francis to pip Simplyunbelievable (Andrew Ramgeet) by a short head in yesterday's Caymanas Park feature race for the CTL Fan Appreciation Trophy over 2200 metres. Unleaded, the 9-5 favourite, was winning this race for the second consecutive year in a photo finish. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
UNLEADED, RIDDEN by Paul 'Country' Francis, withstood a strong last furlong challenge from SIMPLYUNBELIEVABLE to win the Fan Appreciation Day feature over 2200 metres for the second consecutive year at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Last year, the six-year-old gelding by Royal Minister out of Lavaliere, won by a head from MILLIMETRE.
Yesterday it was even closer as Francis had to deep deep in his reserves aboard the 9-5 marginal favourite in order to pip SIMPLYUNBELIEVABLE (9-2), with three-time champion Andrew Ramjeet aboard, by a short head in a field of seven overnight allowance horses.
Trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes for owner/breeder Roylton D'Cambre, UNLEADED was held off the early pace for most of the way as highly fancied SWEET SOUTHERNGAL (2-1) under dethroned champion jockey Trevor Simpson led comfortably, ahead of QUICK MEDIC and the well backed ALPHA LUPA (2-1), a stable-companion of the winner.
UNLEADED made a sweeping move on the outside approaching the home turn and although forced to come wide into the straight, came through with SIMPLY-UNBELIEVABLE (on the inside) approaching the distance and only gained the ascendancy in a thrilling head bob, as ALPHA LUPA stayed on for third, another two lengths away.
SECOND WIN
UNLEADED duly chalked up his second consecutive win, having scored over the circular nine course on December 3 with Francis aboard.
Meanwhile, MYBLUBELLE (7-1) also made it two in a row when storming through in the closing stages to win the $160,000 claiming race for the McKay Security Trophy over 1820 metres, ahead of the subsequently disqualified RAZZAK (Simpson up) and long-time leader SAID I SAID I with Ramgeet astride.
Following a Stewards' Inquiry, RAZZAK was disqualified and placed third for impeding SAID I SAID I (awarded second) on the rails midway through the last furlong, forcing Ramgeet to snatch up his mount.
MYBLUBELLE was ridden by two-time champion jockey Joe Buchanan for owner/trainer Rowan Mathie. Buchanan, who along with Mathie received cash incentives of $25,000 each from the sponsors McKay Security, said familiarity with the horse made a difference.
EARLY PACE
"No one knows this horse better than me. This is the sixth time I have won with her and today I just waited off the early pace for I knew they would play into my hands in the closing stages."
Mathie was not the only trainer to saddle two winners on the 10-race card. Nunes, whose stable jockey Brian Harding left for Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday as the newly-crowned champion, posted UNLEADED and 9-5 second favourite MYSON to romp the closing race for the New Year's Day Trophy over 1300 metres.
Owned by Elias Haloute and Roger Malek, MYSON was ridden by one-time stable jockey Shane Ellis. Ramgeet (Solid Solution, Getaway Boy) and Francis (Tocumen, Unleaded) also ticked off two winners apiece on the holiday card.
