Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Sankofa is whipped up by new apprentice Omar Walker to win the co-feature - the ninth race for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association of Jamaica Trophy, over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Title-chasing jockey Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry rode three winners at Caymanas Park yesterday to join reigning champion Brian Harding at the top of the jockeys' standings with 50 winners.
Starting the day in second with 47 winners, Henry wasted no time in chipping into Harding's lead, booting home 3-2 chance CHARMING LUTHER (made all) in the first race to move to 48.
The 31-year-old jockey followed up aboard his next ride, 2-1 shot BOURN TO RUN who went wire-to-wire in the third race for maiden three-year-olds over 1400 metres and completed a quick hat-trick aboard 2-1 chance SELECTED VIEW, who also led from start to finish in the fourth race over 1300 metres, to register a half century of wins this season.
Naturally elated
Having ridden five winners in the past two racedays, 'Callaloo' was naturally elated.
"I told you that all I needed was good rides and I would turn them into winners," he noted. "I'm the only contender for the title without a stable behind me so I would like to big up my agent 'Chungie' for going that extra mile to secure good rides for me," he added.
Henry attributed this new thrust for the title to the break he took from July 20 to the 28th.
"I visited my family in Atlanta for eight days and came back well refreshed and more determined," he said. "It's good to take a break from the everyday rigours of racing now and then. Right now I am looking forward to keep myself in the thick of things for this championship will be the most competitive in many years," added the 1997 champion jockey.
Miserable day
Harding, meanwhile, experienced a miserable day in the saddle and for the third time in the last four racedays, failed to ride a winner. In fact, the seven-time Trinidadian champion has ridden only one winner in the past four racedays, during which time his lead has whittled away.
It was also a winless day for five-time champion Trevor Simpson who was left stranded on 45 wins - the same as four-time champion Charles Hussey who rode one winner in the 3-y-o debutante, SABER JET, for his brother Percy and mom Ruth.
Meanwhile, two of the apprentice riders who recently graduated from the Jockeys' School and began riding on Saturday rode winners on the 10-race programme.
Omar Walker, who became the first from the batch of 15 to ride a winner (Super Natural) on Saturday, followed up aboard the Collin-Blair-trained SANKOFA (9-2) in the TOBA Trophy co-feature over 1400 metres.
Earlier on the programme, Kevin Blake, son of the late jockey Kenneth Blake, won aboard the 2-y-o filly SANTA BABY for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.
The Emancipation Day Trophy co-feature over 1300 metres was won in post-to-post fashion by 6-1 chance LIGHTENING ALLEY with Paul Ramsay riding for trainer Wesley Perkins.
