Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
MUCHO GUSTO, with champion jockey Brian Harding aboard, is led into the winners' enclosure after winning the Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy 2-y-o feature over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer ,/small>
MUCHO GUSTO, running at odds of 5-2 on a sloppy surface caused by heavy mid-afternoon rain, outfinished the front-running ALNASKRA to win the $2.5 million Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy 2-y-o feature over 1400 metres at Caymans Park yesterday.
One of two winners on the card for champion jockey Brian Harding, MUCHO GUSTO found extra in the closing stages to beat ALNASKRA (3-1) by 1 1/4 lengths in a driving finish, both finishing clear of 9-2 chance and recent Red Stripe Breeders' Stakes winner RUN ALDEENO in third.
This marked race No. 2 in the $7.5 million Supreme Ventures Series of three for native bred two-year-olds. The third and final race, the Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over 1600 metres, is scheduled for Boxing Day.
not paid
With this victory, MUCHO GUSTO ensured that the $1 million bonus offered by SVL to the horse good enough to win all three races in the series will not be paid.
STRONG HOPE, who won the first race in the series, the $2 million Cash Pot Only for Me Trophy over 1200 metres on October 14, apparently disliked the muddy conditions and ran no race at all, eventually finishing sixth as the 6-5 favourite.
It was the 79-1 outsider SHAKE YOUR BOOTY and ALNASKRA under title-chasing jockey Wesley Henry who disputed the early lead, ahead of MUCHO GUSTO and the well-backed MARK TO MARKET (7-2) disputing third, followed by RUN ALDEENO with STRONG HOPE outpaced under five-time champion Trevor Simpson.
ALNASKRA disposed of SHAKE YOUR BOOTY leaving the half mile, but MUCHO GUSTO quickly went in chase and mounted his challenge on the inside entering the straight. A neck-and-neck duel then ensued from early in the straight and with neither jockey giving nothing away, MUCHO GUSTO gained the ascendancy midway through the last furlong for a fighting victory.
The rank outsider JUSJAMAICANTIC (refused gates) was declared a late non-starter, reducing the field to eight.
Owned by Elias Haloute, trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes and bred by Argyll Farms Limited, MUCHO GUSTO, a bay gelding by Law Of The Sea out of the Airgator mare Sweet Desire, chalked up his second win from four starts.
Harding had a second winner on the card in the Dwight Chen-trained 6-5 favourite DR. SOCRATES who romped home in the overnight allowance race over 1700m in the colours of leading owner Howard Hamilton whose other runner, POLISH MARKET, finished second.
Harding continues to lead the standings with 83 winners, seven clear of closet rival Wesley Henry who also rode two winners in 3-2 favourite INFORMACY and odds-on favourite STEAD GOLD in the second and seventh races, respectively.
Charles Hussey also rode two winners in 2-5 favourite FIRST PRINCESS and 4-1 shot ASIA WINTER for his brother Percy and mom, Ruth. The latter got up on the line in pouring ran to catch the battling leaders, CONCORDE and STORMY SKY.
