Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Jockey Richie Mitchell is all smiles after booting home MAJOR MAYER in post-to-post fashion in the circular nine feature for the Royal Dad Trophy at Caymanas Park yesterday. MAJOR MAYER won at odds of 8-1 in the six-horse field. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

THIS YEAR'S Derby winner, RANSOM MAN, threw in a clinker in yesterday's circular nine feature for the Royal Dad Trophy at Caymanas Park, the race resulting in a post-to-post victory for 8-1 chance MAJOR MAYER.

Ridden by Richard Mitchell for trainer Michael McIntosh, MAJOR MAYER, who was beaten out of sight by RANSOM MAN in the June 3 Digicel Derby, reported with blood in his eyes on this occasion and won impressively in a field of six three-year-olds.

He was chased by the outsiders SOPHIA and GOLDEN LOUISE for the first half of the race, as highly-fancied MYLEGACY (8-5) and CALABASH BAY (3-1) raced just off the early pace with RANSOM MAN under champion jockey Brian Harding bringing up the rear.

Cruised into the straight

After thwarting a feeble challenge from CALABASH BAY between the half mile and the 600-metre point, MAJOR MAYER cruised into the straight with a two-length lead and moved away from rivals to win by five lengths in the fairly good time of 1:56.1.

In the battle for the minor placings, the filly MYLEGACY, bidding for a hat-trick of wins under title-chasing jockey Trevor Simpson, outfinished CALABASH BAY by a neck for second, with RANSOM MAN plodding home 15 1/4 lengths fourth.

RANSOM MAN actually improved his position on the inside rails to be within striking distance (third) of MAJOR MAYER passing the 600-metre marker but he was soon in trouble approaching the final bend and his fate was obvious at this stage.

His distraught trainer, Gary Subratie, confessed that RANSOM MAN has proved difficult to train since purchased from his previous owner by Phillip Azar for $1.7 million in late July.

"He has lots of problems ... hoof, joint, suspensory and a slight back problem," said Subratie.

Below-par effort

"I have tried to sort them out but today's below-par effort clearly indicates that there is still a lot of work to be done with him. Although I'll have to talk to the owner, I would say he is doubtful for the Superstakes in early November," added the second-generation trainer who holds down fourth position in the standings with 33 winners and $10.9 million in stakes.

MAJOR MAYER was notching his third win from 15 starts this season with just more than $1 million in stakes. Bred by Henry Jaghai, the chestnut gelding by Sir Lal Bahadur out of Tee Vee Gee is owned by T.Y.S. Racing Stables.

On a day when the apprentice riders won four of the 10 races, the howling favourite BLOW WIND BLOW with Marklee Buchanan astride, romped the secondary feature, the CTL Claiming Series No. 4 over 1800 metres, to complete a double for trainer Desmond Shand who had earlier posted the 1-5 favourite TOTAL MOTION to win the second race.

Joseph Thomas also saddled two winners in evens favourite POWER CRACKER and MAGIC DRAGON at 8-1.