OrvilleClarke, Freelance Writer

COMING FROM last to first, the 2004 ‘Horse of
the Year’, DISTINCTLY IRISH, once again defied top weight of 60.5kg to win the graded stakes feature for the L.R. ‘Bob’ Mayall Memorial Trophy over 1600 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

With a new rider at the helm - Charles Hussey replacing fellow ‘Hall of Famer’ and customary pilot Winston ‘Fanna’ Griffiths - DISTINCTLY IRISH was installed a 1-5 favourite in quest of his 16th career win.

But despite the short odds, Hussey had to work overtime aboard Howard Hamilton’s six-year-old gelding in order to win by three-quarters of a length from the filly LA REINA (9-1) under crack lightweight apprentice Carlton Malcolm, in a field of six.

Tailed off from early as the fleet-footed American horse CLOCK WORK (7-2) led from MAJOR MAYER (9-2), the Philip Feanny-trained DISTINCTLY IRISH turned for home about eight lengths off the pace in fourth and seemingly with a mountain to climb.

At that stage, CLOCK WORK, with title-chasing apprentice Omar Walker astride, had poached a clear lead over LA REINA and MAJOR MAYER but shortened in the last furlong.

Rare turn

DISTINCTLY IRISH then produced a rare turn of foot in the middle, responding to some heavy whipping by Hussey to sweep past leaders CLOCK WORK and LA REINA in the last 100 metres, winning by three quarter lengths. Hussey, who turned 50 last month, looked physically drained after the race, and rightly so.

“He takes a lot of riding,” said the four-time champion of DISTINCTLY IRISH. “This was the first time I was riding him so I didn’t really know him. We were lucky to prevail in the end but, based on his past record, he was definitely the horse to beat at a mile,” he added.