Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer
PLEASURE CRUISE (centre), with champion jockey Brian Harding up, powering to victory in yesterday's eighth race at Caymanas Park. It was the third of three victories on the 10-race card for the Trinidadian. His other winners were PURE MUD and LADY T. Harding's tally for the season now stands at 97, nine more than second place Wesley Henry. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
CHAMPION jockey Brian Harding yesterday left no doubt as to who will be crowned top rider at Caymanas Park after posting a three-timer, leaving his lone challenger, Wesley Henry, nine wins behind with two racedays left in the year.
Harding's three winners - PURE MUD in the third, LADY T in the fourth and PLEASURE CRUISE in the eighth - took him to 97 wins whereas Henry could only manage one winner, THE KID, in the opening event, to take his tally to 88.
All but crowned champion jockey 2006, 43-year-old Harding, a Trinidadian, is on the verge of creating local racing history as he is set to become the first foreigner to successfully defend a jockeys' title at Caymanas Park.
The Panamanian, José Bravo, was the first foreigner to win a local jockeys' championship when he shared the 1971 title with Richard DePass.
Dethrone
Harding equalled that feat in 2005 when he logged 109 winners to dethrone Trevor Simpson.
Harding, who also booted home four winners on Wednesday, yesterday declared himself home and dried.
"I don't think he can win nine races in two days," he said, referring to Henry, who threw the Trinidadian a scare by moving within four wins after landing six races in two days last week.
"We have four riders coming on Tuesday - Andrew Ramgeet, Cecilio Penalba, Emelio Rodriquez and Allen Maragh - so it's definitely impossible for him.
"It would take a miracle for him to win nine races in two days," Harding added.
Harding admitted he was a bit concerned when Henry hit a purple patch earlier this month.
"You would be if someone is gaining on you and getting good rides," he said.
"I knew my stable never had many horses running so I had to look outside. My agent got to some trainers and got some decent rides. We had to go out hard and look for more live rides."
Harding, who has won seven titles in his native Trinidad and Tobago, first rode in Jamaica on Superstakes Day 1991, representing the twin-island republic in the Red Stripe Jockeys' Championship.
Full time
He started riding full time at Caymanas Park in 1996, contracted mainly to the barn of Anthony Nunes for Barbadian owner Elias Haloute.
So far this year, Harding has ridden 49, exactly a half of his 98 winners, from Nunes, which his detractors claim is responsible for his titles.
"That's not true," he said.
"Wayne DaCosta has won more races than my stable so whoever rides for him should be champion then. It's a matter of getting the best rides and making use of it," the Trinidadian added.
Harding will continue riding for the remainder of the year but said he will return home for Trinidad's big New Year's Day meet.
"I am going back home to ride on January 1," said. "It's a special day in Trinidad."
Yesterday's feature event, Race Six of the Second CTL Claiming Series, was won by trainer Donovan Raymond's MEDICAL ACCOUNT.
Oneil Mullings partnered the six-year-old gelding to victory over 1500 metres.
Philip Feanny was the day's top trainer, saddling two winners, PURE MUD in the third at 1500 metres and WHITE DIAMOND in the seventh at 1000 metres straight.
