Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterHOT FAVOURITE ROYAL COMMAND continued on his merry way at Caymanas Park yesterday, completing a hat trick of wins in the three-year-old and up open allowance feature for the Ambassador's Trophy over 1700 metres with title-chasing jockey Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry aboard.
Significantly, the Ambassador's Trophy was just one of seven trophy races on the 11-race programme, some of these put on to mark World Veterinary Day.
Hence, the day's supporting feature for the Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association Trophy for overnight allowance horses, over the straight five course, was won in decisive fashion by the course specialist FLYING TIGER (3-1) with Devon A. Thomas riding for Lopez Dream Stables and trainer Gary Subratie.
STEWARDS' INQUIRY
FLYING TIGER, who made most (angling away from the far side to finish on the outside), led home 1-2 favourite SPANISH FLEET under five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson, then had to survive a Stewards' Inquiry for crossing third past the post SARAH'S FRIEND with leading jockey Charles Hussey leaving the quarter pole in the 10-strong field.
ROYAL COMMAND, meanwhile, chased his lesser-fancied stable companion BATTLEOX for most of the way before gliding through leaving the half mile. He turned for home full of running and won much easier than the official margin of 1 1/2 lengths indicated in a field of six. NATURAL DESIRE (7-1) finished fast to pip the winner's stable-companion BANJUHAR (5-1) for third.
A four-year-old chestnut gelding by Irish Quest out of the Joe Slew mare Thanatos, ROYAL COMMAND, who finished third to MIRACLE MAN in last year's Derby and St. Leger, is part-owned and trained by Richard Azan.
Simpson (Ruckus, Viscosity at 10-1) and Hussey (Black River, Lightening Alley) shared the riding honours with two wins each, Hussey moving to 31 in the jockeys' standings, four clear of closet rival Henry who rode one winner.
Subratie saddled two winners, FLYING TIGER and SILVER PEN at 7-2.
Ridden by champion jockey Brian Harding, SILVER PEN (made most) thwarted a sustained last furlong
challenge on the inside from the Hussey-ridden 1-2 favourite PASSA PASSA to win the opening 1400-metre race by a nose, both jockeys providing a thrill for racing fans in their stirring stretch duel. It was only decided by the bob of a head.
