Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

THE BEST MAN, a sparingly-raced, three-year-old gelding by Royal Minister out of Jamaican Runner, made a bridesmaid out of 6-5 favourite RIGGED TO WIN once again with a smooth victory in the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers' Association Trophy race (non-winners of two) at Caymanas yesterday.

Backed down to 3-1 with competent jockey Devon A. Thomas riding for trainer Dwight Chen, THE BEST MAN breezed home by two lengths from RIGGED TO WIN, who in turn had 5 3/4 lengths to spare over the 34-1 outsider KAMECHI in a field of 10.

Breathing down his neck

RIGGED TO WIN, who was ridden by in-form Dane Nelson for returning champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, again finished second. The consistent bay filly by Outrigger out of Crusader's Shield has now finished second in six of her past eight races and third in the others.

THE BEST MAN raced in touch from soon after the start as TIMOTHY SCOTT (6-1) made most ahead of PRINCESS LATOYA with RIGGED TO WIN outpaced a bit.

TIMOTHY SCOTT turned for home with THE BEST MAN breathing down his neck, the latter going through approaching the distance to win comfortably from RIGGED TO WIN coming late as usual. The winner is owned by New Blue Limited and bred by Laurence Heffes and Damian Chin-You.

Earlier in the afternoon, DaCosta and Nelson had better luck with the classy two-year-old gelding MR. SKILL who made all to win the $500,000 Dye Job Sprint over 1200 metres by 1 1/2 lengths from the fast-finishing 8-1 chance ROYAL IMAGE with former champion Shane Ellis aboard. Nine ran.

MR. SKILL, who is co-owned by DaCosta, Alfred Lee and Edmund Thomas, has won four races from seven starts and close to $2.3 million in stakes.

Four honoured by JRTA

On a day when four veteran trainers (Vin Edwards, Noel Ennevor, Ivanhoe 'Skit' Williams and 14-time champion Philip Feanny) were honoured by their association, HI-TECH (5-1) with apprentice Javour Simpson riding for trainer Eddie Hamilton, romped the Earl Adams Memorial Trophy three-year-old maiden special race over the straight five course. And evens favourite TOCUMEN with apprentice Rayan Wilson riding for trainer Dennis Lee, won the Charlie James Memorial Trophy race over 1100 metres.

Miracle Man finishesfourth in Puerto Rico

Jamaican horse MIRACLE MAN (Allen Maragh up) failed in his bid to win the US$100,000 Confraternity Classic for the second consecutive year in Puerto Rico yesterday, finishing fourth to the Venezulean horse GRAND ESTEFANA over 10 furlongs.

The Philip Feanny-trained RUM TALK will represent Jamaica in the US$300,000 Caribbean Classic today.