Personal Nemesis wins Digicel Stakes

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

FLEET-FOOTED PERSONAL NEMESIS made it a wire to wire affair at Caymanas Park yesterday to win the inaugural running of the Digicel Irish Jamaican Stakes over 1300 metres, but only just from stable-companion SOLID IMPACT who came flying at the finish.

Ridden by veteran lightweight Robert Reid under the feather impost of 46.5kg, PERSONAL NEMESIS, an American 5-y-o horse from the stables of champion trainer Philip Feanny, won by only a head as the 3-1 second favourite from SOLID IMPACT under in-form Peter Bryan well backed at 4-1.

Both finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of COOL WATER (11-1) whose stable-companion, the reigning 'Horse of the Year' MENUDO was fourth in a field of eight top class horses.

Big disappointment was the performance of the 3-5 favourite DEPUTY'S REPORT who could only manage fifth, beaten 8 1/4 lengths under customary topweight of 60.5kg.

Ridden as usual by Charles Hussey, the outstanding American 5-y-o horse was unable to go the hot early early pace and to the surprise of everyone, found nil when asked for his kick on entering the straight. It was rumoured that "The Deputy" had a coughing problem coming into the race, but this could not be confirmed by his connections.

Nothing, however, could detract from the performance of PERSONAL NEMESIS, who led comfortably from RUCKUS in the backstretch. And when COOL WATER loomed menancingly early in the straight, he responded to a bustling ride to hold that challenge safe, but just barely lasted from the versatile and consistent SOLID IMPACT, who finished like a train on the inside after being the backamarker for the first half of the race.

Winning jockey Reid recalls: "I was instructed to put him in front and make every post a winning one, so I cruised with him in the backstretch.

"Coming into the straight, I noticed he was inclined to run with his head down, so I said to myself 'you nah stop pon me today' and rode the hair off his back to the post. I just made it".

Secondary feature for the Digicel Cup on the first ever Digicel raceday, this confined to native bred two-year-olds, resulted in an emphatic win for the unbeaten STORMONTHELOOSE, who made all to score by 5 1/2 lengths from 9-5 second favourite SAINT COLUMBA who hurt his chances by missing the break in the field of seven.

A bay filly by Royal Minister out of Dax The One, STORMONTHELOOSE was ridden as usual by Kenyatta Davis for owner Alexander Haber and trainer Jose Pinchin. She is unbeaten in five starts and yesterday, duly pushed her stakes earnings to $1.28 million.

Highlight of the race was the novel owner of the year promotion by Digicel and CTL. Punters were required to fill out coupons at Caymanas Park in order to enter and the winning entry drawn belonged to regular turfite, 46-year-old Afenwick Reid from a Waterhouse address. He chose the previously unbeaten TIGERINTHEWOODS and under the rules covering the competition, will become honorary owner of the horse until August 24 next year. During that time, whatever purse money the horse earns will be matched by Digicel (up to $500,000) and this will go to the honorary owner.

On what turned out to be a tough day for form players, Feanny saddled three winners in JADE RUNNER, MATANAH and PERSONAL NEMESIS, while Bryan (Matanah, Butcher Man) and leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths (Jade Runner, Dame Margot) rode two winners each. Griffiths moved his career tally to 1393.

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