Rhythm Of My Heart riding high

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

The vastly improved filly RHYTHM OF MY HEART duly made it two in a row at Caymanas Park yesterday with a smooth victory in the She's On Wheels Trophy over 1100 metres, race No. 2 in the lucrative National Gas Stations' Fillies and Mares Championship series.

Fresh from her decisive win in the Lotto Sprint over the same distance on the previous Saturday, RHYTHM OF MY HEART, running at odds of 9-5 with Charles Hussey aboard, came back to win by 1 3/4 lengths from her lesser fancied stable-companion SOLID IMPACT (12-1) who had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over the late closing LADY BANGALORE (12-1) in third.

The big disappointment was the performance of the even-money favourite GAILY DECORATED who chased home RYHTHM OF MY HEART in the Lotto Sprint on May 20. Although renewing the rivalry on 3kg better terms, American-bred GAILY DECORATED finished last but one in the field of six after leading for 600 metres.

RHYTHM OF MY HEART, who chased GAILY DECORATED from early, challenged strongly approaching the home turn and disposed of her on entering the straight. She quickened into a clear lead approaching the distance and kept on strongly to win from SOLID IMPACT (always prominent), enabling Feanny and the Lakeland Farms to sweep the first two places.

Winning owner Richard Lake of the Lakeland Farms said he was pleased with the progress of RHYTHM OF MY HEART who notched her fourth win from six starts this season, three coming over her pet distance of 1,100 metres.

"She hurt herself after winning the 1,000 Guineas last year," recalled the owner. "However, her condition now is superior to what it was last year and all credit is due to trainer Philip Feanny.

"She has made fantastic improvement and as things now stand, she is so versatile and consistent that we can run her over practically any distance.

"While I expected her to win today, I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of Solid Impact in finishing second in a race of this nature," said Lake who had a second winner when 4-5 favourite LIFE IS GOOD romped home in the sixth race for maiden three-year-olds with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths aboard.

LIFE IS GOOD is a bay filly by French Champagne out of the 1992 Guineas and Oaks winner Classique. And RHYTHM OF MY HEART is a four-year-old bay filly by Restless Thief out of Classique, both owned and bred by the Lakeland Farms.

In addition to Feanny and Lakeland Farms, champion jockey Andrew Ramgeet rode two winners in PAPPARAZZI (2-1) and BLOOR AND BAY (3-1). He pushed his season's tally to 46 in the jockeys' championship, seven ahead of closest rival Shane Ellis who rode one winner in the unbeaten favourite NORAN BATMAN.

The day's big upset was provided by the Owen Sharpe-trained CASTAGNA at 50-1 in the fourth race over 1,100 metres. Ridden by Panamanian jockey Ameth Robles, the grey gelding ran on strongly leaving the furlong pole to win from the subsequently disqualified BOUND FOR GLORY.

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