Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
SWING BY, ridden by Charles Hussey, streaks to victory in the 67th Jamaica Oaks at Caymanas Park yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
SWING BY joined a select band of fillies to complete the 1000 Guineas and Oaks double when she won the mile and quarter classic at Caymanas Park yesterday in post-to-post fashion, for the Hilma Veira Trophy.
Installed as howling 1-9 favourite with leading jockey Charles Hussey astride, SWING BY from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, was driven out in the straight to win by 2 3/4 lengths from her lesser-fancied stable-companion QUEEN OF MY HEART (3-1) under former champion jockey Trevor Simpson in a field of six native bred-three-year-old fillies.
Well away from the number five post position, SWING BY galloped past the stands ahead of rank outsider CHANEL (38-1) with champion jockey Brian Harding aboard, followed by QUEEN OF MY HEART and ECSTASY with MY LEGACY (reared start) outpaced early and RAMADA tailed out.
SWING BY proceeded to lead on a snug hold, some two lengths clear of CHANEL and QUEEN OF MY HEART who went in chase from the half mile.
After turning for home three lengths clear of the hard-ridden QUEEN OF MY HEART, Hussey had to bustle up SWING BY in order to hold QUEEN OF MY HEART at bay.
Responding readily to the right-hand stick and then the left, SWING BY kept on strongly along the rails for a decisive win, joining AERO STAR (2000), AWESOME POWER (2001), SIMPLY MAGIC (2002) and LATONIA (2004) as fillies having completed the Guineas/Oaks double in the past 10 years. MYLEGACY finished third while CHANEL faded into fourth.
Hussey said afterwards that he had things in control when SWING BY led unmolested into the straight, but in the end he had to resort to the whip.
"She began to idle a bit early in the straight and I had to give her several cracks of the right-hand whip. I switched it to the left hand in the last furlong and she laid out nicely in the closing stages for a good win," said Hussey.
"Last year I won the 1000 Guineas with Si Mi Trial, but she failed to win the Oaks even though she was the big favourite. I am happy that her stable-companion Swing By was able to accomplish the feat," added the four-time champion jockey who had
previously won the Oaks aboard HOT LINE (1976), HABITUAL (1994), AERO STAR and AWESOME POWER.
SIX STARTS
Bred by Troy Alexander, SWING BY who has now won her last three races and her fourth from six starts, is a dark bay filly Alisios out of the Skip Trial mare Skip By. She is owned by Trinidadian businessman Bernard S. Dulal-Whiteway who has assumed the lead in the owners' standings with just more than $3.4 million.
Later in the afternoon, the classy American 4-y-o colt QUIET STRENGTH romped the graded stakes supporting feature for the Lady Geeta Trophy over 1200 metres, notching his seventh consecutive win in the process.
Installed a 4-5 favourite with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths riding for 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny and the Lakeland Farms Limited, QUIET STRENGTH, toting 58.5kg, chased the fleet-footed LIL'COUNTRY BOY at close range in the seven-strong field. He disposed 'COUNTRY BOY' entering the straight to win by 4 3/4 lengths from the Hussey-ridden FORMALLY GOLD.
Jockeys Simpson and Wesley Henry shared the honours with two winners each on the 12-race programme, while DaCosta saddled two in SWING BY and NATURAL DESIRE at 5-1 in the overnight allowance race.
