Four winners for Feanny

- Rudolph Brown

In a battle of the lightweights, 4-5 favourite RAKKADASH (No 7, Peter Bryan) got his nose in front where it mattered to pip a very game INVESTOLATOR (Wesley Henry) in the Merry Deal Cup straight five feature at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

CHAMPION trainer Philip Feanny highlighted yesterday's 12-race programme at Caymanas Park with four winners, including 4-5 favourite RAKKADASH in the overnight allowance feature for the Merry Deal Cup, this over the straight five course.

In addition, Feanny posted lightly raced JADE RUNNER a 2-5 favourite in the fourth race for maiden three-year-olds, DR. R.S.F. at similar odds in the fifth over the straight five course and PUREJOY who made all as the 4-5 favourite in the seventh race over the round five course.

It was expected that Feanny would have achieved a five-timer with one of two highly fancied runners in the eighth race over the round five course. But the 12-time champion was foiled by the Roy Jackson-trained PAY PER VIEW who made most to stave off Feanny's imported debutant THE SEVENTH WAVE (evens favourite) by 2 1/2 lengths.

RAKKADASH, who started the 2001 season as the second highest rated three-year-old behind stable-companion MILLIMETRE, made heavy weather of winning the Merry Deal feature by a nose from fellow lightweight INVESTOLATOR (2-1) under leading jockey Wesley "Calalloo" Henry.

Ridden by back to form lightweight Peter Bryan, RAKKADASH disputed the lead with GOINGTOKANASCITY immediately on his outside and INVESTOLATOR on the inside.

All three came on to the main track virtually in a line but RAKKADASH, responding to the right hand stick, pointed just inside the last furlong. But the race was far from over at this stage, as young Bryan had to ride the shirt off his back, so to speak, in order to beat a determined INVESTOLATOR who rallied strongly under a bustling ride from Henry to force a tight photo.

GOINGTOKANSASCITY (7-2), who was unable to give away the weight to the two principals in the closing stages, was not disgraced in finishing 2 1/4 lengths third under former champion jockey Hubert Bartley in the field of nine.

RAKKADASH is owned by Joseph "Fuggie" Duany and bred by Y.S. (1955) Limited. The bay colt by Exotic Traveler out of Forsaken was notching his first win from six starts this season, yet had earned close to $500,000 in purse money prior to yesterday's race.

Feanny, having assumed the lead in the champion race from arch rival Wayne DaCosta on the previous Saturday, thanks to MILLIMETRE's St. Leger win, has posted six winners in the past three race days to be third with 27 winners behind runaway leader Richie Todd with over 50 and Wayne DaCosta 37. But Feanny leads the stakes category with over $11 million after yesterday's windfall.

RAKKADASH was one of eight favourites to score on a day when form players licked their fingers. The others were QUEEN HILL at 6-5 in the first, FRENCH MINISTER who made all at 1-1 in the second, DaCosta's CLASSY TANYA, JADE RUNNER, DR. R.S.F., PUREJOY, BLANCHE and big horse OWEN TAYLOR who made all in the 'A1' straight five.

As a result the $3 million Pick-9 was cornered by as many as 30 punters, each receiving $114,734.00.

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