Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
The hot favourite Miracle Man (left), ridden by champion jockey Brian Harding, disposes of long-time leader Good Company (Wesley Henry) in the closing stages to win the $1.1 million Prime Minister's Stakes over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. Miracle Man is unbeaten in five starts this season. -
Collin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Champion jockey Brian Harding ended his lean spell at Caymanas Park yesterday by landing the co-feature races aboard 'Horse of the Year' MIRACLE MAN and LA REINA.
The Allan 'Billy' Williams-trained MIRACLE MAN won the $1.1 million Prime Minister's Stakes, but Harding had to pull out all the stops aboard the massive four-year-old gelding in order to catch and beat the bold front runner GOOD COMPANY (2-1) in the last 100 metres.
Installed a howling 1-5 favourite in a field of six, MIRACLE MAN shouldered customary topweight of 60.5kg to be unbeaten in five starts this season.
Owned and bred by Joseph Duany, MIRACLE MAN seems on course for a second 'Horse of the Year' award. Indeed, the four-year-old colt by Law Of The Sea out of Hya only has Philip Feanny's crack imported sprinter QUIET STRENGTH to contend with in the 'Horse of the Year' balloting, as both have done enough at this stage to ensure a straight fight.
LA REINA, meanwhile, won the fourth running of the 3-y-o and up open allowance race for the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission Trophy over 1400 metres, coming from last to first in the seven-strong field.
Least fancied
The least fancied at 10-1 in the betting, LA REINA was not the best away and was last in the early stages, as the 2-1 favourite SWING BY with in-form Wesley Henry aboard led at a fast clip from top weight RAMPAGE (3-1) under Trevor Simpson. However, LA REINA charted a clear course on the inside rails from the half-mile and straightened within striking distance of the leader. She quickened up nicely on the inside and went by SWING BY a furlong out for an easy win, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:24.4, with SWING BY second.
LA REINA is owned by Elias Haloute and trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, who also posted the 23-1 outsider ALPHA LUPA to victory in Saturday's feature race for the Worldphone Cup.
With leading jockey 'Callaloo' Henry failing to ride a winner on the 10-race holiday programme Harding, who had ridden only one winner in five previous racedays, seized the opportunity to regain the lead. He tops the standings with 52, one ahead of Henry.
Meanwhile, young Javour Simpson became the third apprentice from the new batch to ride a winner when he booted home 7-2 chance LAW LORD for trainer Philip Feanny in the fifth race.
The Vin Edwards-trained BOMBAY PRINCESS (Leo Miller up) scored a 23-1 upset in the Charles Randle Trophy race, while 4-5 favourite RIGMAROLE, one of two winners for Charles Hussey, won the inaugural running of the Albert Rose Memorial Trophy.
