Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Jockey Allen Maragh aboard 2-5 favourite MIRACLE MAN glances over his shoulder at rivals in the closing stages of yestrerday's $4.25 million Red Stripe Superstakes over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park. The reigning Horse-of-the-Year won the prestigious invitational race for the second straight year at the expense of the 2004 winner DISTINCTLY IRISH.

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

IT WAS a case of history repeating itself in the 28th running of the $4.25 million Red Stripe Superstakes over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

'Horse of the Year', MIRACLE MAN, reunited with Florida-based Jamaica jockey Allen 'Bungo John' Maragh, not only reprised last year's victory, but beat none other than the 2004 winner DISTINCTLY IRISH (2-1) into second once again with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths riding the 2004 Derby winner and 'Horse of the Year' for 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny once again.

Similar margin

Installed as a 2-5 favourite in a field of 11 native bred three-year-olds and up, MIRACLE MAN won by 2 1/2 from DISTINCTLY IRISH who in turn finished a similar margin ahead of this year's St. Leger winner ALLIEDFORCE (9-2) under United States-based Jamaican jockey Andrew Ramgeet, with fourth going to the 49-1 outsider GOOD COMPANY under 'Hall of Famer' Charles Hussey.

It was HERECOMESFUDGIE who led passing the stands for the first time, a length or two ahead of the lone filly MYLEGACY (66-1), closely followed by MIRACLE MAN, AD INFINITUM (15-1) under champion jockey Brian Harding, and DISTINCTLY IRISH.

As the race progressed, Maragh bided his time in third with MIRACLE MAN before making a decisive move at the halfway stage.

He swept past long-time leader HERECOMESFUDGIE on the run to the half mile, and with DISTINCTLY IRISH soon sent in serious chase, it was clear that the two previous winners would have the finish to themselves.

Torrid whipping

However, MIRACLE MAN was not for the catching and although DISTINCTLY IRISH threatened briefly approaching the distance, he responded readily to some torrid right-hand whipping from Maragh to win unchallenged.

Significantly, MIRACLE MAN is unbeaten in nine starts this season, all in grade one trophy races. Yesterday, he was hailed by many as the greatest-ever native-bred horse

In fact, he has not lost a race since winning last year's Superstakes and having made it 10 in a row, is now eyeing WAR ZONE's all-time record of 12 consecutive wins achieved in 1996.

Owned and bred by Joseph 'Fudgie' Duany and trained by veteran 'Hall of Famer' Allan 'Billy Williams, MIRACLE MAN, a massive four-year-old chestnut colt by Law Of The Sea out of Hya, has now won 15 races from 20 career starts with stakes of close to $16 million.

"This horse continues to amaze me," said Maragh, who was riding MIRACLE MAN for the first time since the WITRA Classic on May 20. He was subsequently sidelined with a broken ankle in Florida, resulting in rides aboard MIRACLE MAN being offered to Harding.

"He went through on his own approaching the half mile and turned for home a good leader," Maragh said. "But I expected a little more from him up the straight, He's like that ... he tends to idle when he doesn't see the competition close up. So I had to bustle him up and he responded well."

MIRACLE MAN's next assignment is the Confratenity Classic for four-year-olds and in Puerto Rico on Sunday, December 3. He is scheduled to leave the island on November 20.

Elsewhere on the 'Superday' programme, which was sponsored for the last time by Red Stripe, the 6-5 RAMPAGE, ridden by Wesley Henry for owner/trainer Richard Azan, won the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint in fine style.

Other winners

The Wayne DaCosta-trained RUN ALDEENO (15-1), with Ramgeet aboard, motored from last position to win the Red Stripe 2-Y-O Breeders' Stakes in a blanket finish from stable companions MARK TO MARKET and STRONG HOPE.

CLOCK WORK, a 4-5 favourite with Trevor Simpson aboard, made all to win the Red Stripe Mile confined to imported horses for the second straight year, while Richie Mitchell, thanks to two winners (Incommunicado, Peace Angel), won the US$3,000 Red Stripe Jockeys' Challenge with 56 points ahead of Robert Reid (32) and Harding (28).