Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

TYRONE SON, the subject of a massive gamble, came through early in the straight to win the Long Shot Trophy feature over 1300 metres for $160,000 claimers at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Backed down to 9-5 favouritism after finishing fifth at long odds to HAFIFA the previous Saturday, TYRONE SON, with co-champion apprentice Carlton Malcolm aboard, raced prominently from the outset as SIMPLY AWESOME (9-1) tried to make all under Paul 'Country' Francis in the 14-strong field.

TYRONE SON started his winning run leaving the half mile, coming down smoothly from the outside post position (14) to go in chase of the leader. He disposed of SIMPLY AWESOME early in the straight and only had to be pushed out to score by two lengths from SIR KISSON LAL (7-1), who stayed on well from below the distance to stave off the late closing SIR MOHANDAS BABA (3-1) by a neck for second. ARCHANGEL was a late non-starter.

running so fluently

"I had him handily placed on the outside from early and leaving the half mile he was running so fluently that I knew it wouldn't be much of a race up the lane," said Malcolm, who with 13 wins this season is only one adrift of leading jockey and fellow apprentice Javour Simpson.

A 6-y-o grey gelding by Maverick out of Runaway Girl, TRYONE SON was saddled by trainer Dennis Lee for owner Alvin T. Beckford.

Malcolm, who is popularly called 'Little Big Man', had a second winner on the 10-race programme in the 14-1 outsider HIGH GOLD for owner/trainer Ralph Roberts in the fourth race over the straight five course for maiden five-year-olds and up.

Also riding two winners was Francis. He had the leg over 2-1 chance SHUTTLE in the fifth race over 1200 metres (maidens) and CALABASH BAY, who defied top weight of 57kg in the ninth race over 1200 metres for overnight allowance horses.

Owned by Premiere Productions, trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes and bred by Tony Gambrill, the 4-y-o gelding took over the lead from RIGMAROLE entering the straight and turned back a feeble challenge from the well-backed COMMANDING LIGHT from early in the straight to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

The card produced four winning favourites in TYRONE SON, TOOT DE HOOT, who made all impressively in the opening race over 1300 metres with hot jockey Richie Mitchell aboard; HIDALGO at 4-5 in the eighth and PADDY'S STORM (3-2), who made all under a copybook ride from veteran jockey David 'Scorcher McKenzie' in the second race over 1820 metres.

first winner in 14 years

Significantly, PADDY'S STORM marked the first winner for trainer Richie Phillipps in phase two of his career.

A hot young trainer in the '80s, Phillipps, who won the 'Most Improved Trainer' award in 1988, turned his back on racing in the early '90s and went into private business. After a 14-year break, he resumed training in the second half of last year.