Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

THIS YEAR'S Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) winner, IL CAIMANO, floored the odds on the howling 1-2 favourite PURE MUD to win the 3-y-o and up open allowance feature for the Nigel B. Nunes Memorial Trophy over 1820 metres as racing resumed at Caymanas Park yesterday in the wake of Hurricane Dean.

To say it was a fitting victory would be an understatement. IL CAIMANO, who scored at odds of 6-1 under Paul 'Country' Francis, is trained by Anthony Nunes, the son of the man (a former champion trainer) in whose memory the race was run.

It was the second time 'Baba' Nunes saddled the winner of this race, having done so for the first time with PITTACUS in 2005."He reported a fresh horse and really enjoyed the prevailing underfoot conditions," said the trainer.

Although racing for the first time since finishing a poor fourth to RUM TALK in the July 7 St. Leger, IL CAIMANO was presented razor sharp and, in the end, won by 4 1/4 lengths from the super-fit grey gelding HOOKEDONJAZZ (12-1) who got up in the nick of time to pip long-time leader and top weight CHADMAN (14-1) for second in a field of eight.

CHADMAN made most under in-form Dane Nelson. He was chased by PURE MUD and IL CAIMANO racing as a team, but came under pressure from IL CAIMANO on the run to the final bend.

Level terms

Both turned for home on level terms on the wet surface but it was IL CAIMANO on the inside who gained the ascendancy approaching the distance to win going away. A 3-y-o bay colt by Royal Minister out of Needles Last, IL CAIMANO raced in the familiar maroon-and-white silks of leading owner Elias Haloute and was bred by HAM Stables Limited.

With a heavy downpour after the fourth race changing the going to sloppy, the 12-race programme produced five winning favourites, including the Wayne DaCosta-trained 2-y-o colt MR. SKILL (4-5) who made all impressively (in very fast time) in the Keeling Memorial Cup over 1100 metres and 7-5 BANJUHAR who won Race No. 2 in the second CTL Claiming series to give jockey-turned-trainer Winston Morris his first winner.

The mushrooming Pick-9 eluded punters for the ninth consecutive raceday and the carryover to Saturday stands at a whopping $7.6 million.