Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Title-chasing jockey Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry rode his second consecutive three-timer at Caymanas Park yesterday to make further inroads on leading jockey Brian Harding, leaving the championship race wide open with only four racedays remaining in 2006.
The 31-year-old lightweight followed up Wednesday's three-timer with another comprising odds-on favourite ROYAL KINGDOM for this year's Derby winning trainer Eraldo Fullerton in the second race over 1500 metres, evens favourite WINNING MESSAGE for trainer Lawrence Freemantle in the eighth and 9-5 chance DIGI N' JIGGY in the 10th race (overnight allowance) for the William Read Memorial Trophy over 1300 metres.
As a result, Henry pushed his season's tally to 86 - four adrift of reigning champion Harding who followed up a winless Wednesday with only one winner - 2-5 favourite MARINERO in the third race over the round five course.
"I was aiming to ride four winners today, but QUEEN OF MY HEART was surprisingly beaten by the 94-1 outsider SOPHIA in the ninth race.
"Still, I'm pleased with the outcome. My intention was to cut into Harding's lead and now four behind with four days to go, I'm hanging in there.
Going the extra mile
"With the momentum now shifting, I believe I can catch him. My agent 'Chungie' is going the extra mile to secure live mounts and this could hold the key as to who wins the title," said Henry who won his first and only championship as an apprentice in 1997, his first full season in the saddle.
The Wayne DaCosta-trained DIGI N' JIGGY, refitted with his customary blinkers for this race, made virtually all to win the William Read Memorial Trophy ahead of Harding's mount, the even-money favourite CHOSEN ONE who chased him relentlessly.
The winner, a 4-y-o chestnut gelding by Royal Minister out of the You OK mare Wild Heart, is owned by Ping Pong Stables and bred by DaCosta.
The 2004 'Horse of the Year' DISTINCTLY IRISH, one of a number of horses owned by Howard Hamilton entered in today's Dispersal Sale at HAM Stables, Old Port Henderson, Road, repelled a feeble challenge from the lightly weighted UNTOUCHABLE early in the straight to win the open allowance mile by 3 1/4 lengths. The sale starts at 11:00 a.m.
DISTINCTLY IRISH provided leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths and 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny with the first of two winners on the card, the other being 3-5 favourite LA'S DANCER in the two-year-old supporting feature over 1500 metres for the Richard Ashenheim Cup.
Everton Bennett, 23, notched his first career win aboard 11-1 chance RED I in the Apprentice Race, while the Gary Subratie-trained SOPHIA made most for a shock win in the ninth race for three-year-olds over 1700 metres.
