Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

THE 21-1 outsider ROCK STAR QUEEN rebounded at Caymanas Park yesterday with an upset victory in the Birnamwood Trophy feature (claiming $315,000-$295,000) over 1300 metres.

Ridden by the stylish claiming apprentice Jason Simpson for owner/trainer Lloyd 'Bigga' Gordon, ROCK STAR QUEEN was early in the lead and proceeded to make all.

She passed the half mile two lengths clear of the 7-5 favouriteINTROSPECTION, highly fancied FIWI EMBLEM (9-5) and RUCKUS, but was challenged on the outside by INTROSPECTION entering the straight.

A brief duel ensured between the two, before ROCK STAR QUEEN found extra on the inside approaching the distance. Under a strong ride from the apprentice, ROCK STAR QUEEN turned back the challenge of INTROSPECTION to win by three-quarter length.

In the battle for second, FIWI EMBLEM, who turned for home a close up third, got up on the line to relegate INTROSPECTION to third.

This was ROCK STAR QUEEN's second win from her past three starts. The five-year-old mare by Quarry out of Canteen Queen had previously won race No. 3 in the CTL Claiming Series over 1200 metres on March 28. She was ridden by top apprentice Javour Simpson for then trainer Patrick Lynch.

Another ion-form apprentice, Omar Walker, also impressed in the saddle in booting home 4-1 chance I'M D' MAC for many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny in the Restricted Allowance II over 1500 metres for native bred three-year-olds.

I'M D' MAC made all. He turned for home with the 2-5 favourite CHIPONYOURSHOULDER breathing down his neck, but managed to foil that challenge in mid-stretch. Under a bustling ride from Walker, the Natural Selection - Fabrikator offspring thwarted a strong challenge on the inside from fellow 4-1 shot SIR KUNBABIHARI to win by a neck.

On what turned out to be a bad day for form players, the upsets were provided by ROCK STAR QUEEN, DESIGNED FOR LUCK at 11-1, RAZZ BUGG at 9-1 and MUSTANG at 6-1.

The third race won by DESIGNED FOR LUCK was the subject of some controversy among trainers, as the starting stall (No. 9) housing the highly fancied COLLEGE BOY, failed to open in time with the others, thus ruining the horse's chances. It was the general belief that all monies staked on the horse should have been refunded.