- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
QUICK MEDIC (No. 12), ridden by the apprentice Oneil Mullings, outbattles the favourite BROTHER DANIEL (Winston Griffiths) to win the fifth race over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday, denying Griffiths a four-timer on the nine-race card.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
LEADING ALL-TIME jockey Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths revved up for next Saturday's big Superstakes meet with three winners from four rides at Caymanas Park yesterday, including the two-year-old debutante DISTINCTLY IRISH in the Lotto Appreciation Day Sprint over 1100 metres.
His other winners were RESTLESS WARRIOR at 1-2 for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta in the second race confined to high claimers and stable-companion BUYABOOK, an even-money favourite in the eighth race, the Lotto Advance Play Restricted Allowance race for native and imported three-year-olds, over the straight five course.
Griffiths, a five-time champion jockey who turned 45 on September 18, narrowed missed a fourth winner when the sparingly raced 4-y-o colt BROTHER DANIEL, a 2-5 favourite, was beaten in a driving finish by 2-1 chance QUICK MEDIC with the apprentice Oneil Mullings aboard.
Saving the best for last, Griffiths brought the lightly raced imported 3-y-o filly BUYABOOK with a well-timed run to catch long-time leader US ONE (3-1) in the final strides, winning by a neck in the smart time of 58.4.
As a result of yesterday's three-timer, Griffiths who became the first racing person to notch 1,000 winners locally when booting home EROS in the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint on November 13, 1993, has pushed his career tally close to the 1,500 mark - 1,482.
Next Saturday he will bid to win the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint for the third consecutive year aboard the reigning 'Horse of the Year' I'MSATISFIED for 13-time champion trainer Philip Feanny.
However, indications are he will not be aboard the highly fancied A KING IS BORN in the $4 million Red Stripe Superstakes, the 2003 Guineas and Derby winner having gone lame and will miss the prestigious mile and quarter race. He will more than likely switch to stable-companion HERECOMESFUDGIE, one of the fancied horses vying for top honours.
Meanwhile, DISTINCTLY IRISH, who is a half brother to A KING IS BORN, duelled with fellow debutante RUN PAPA RUN for the lead from soon after the start in the Lotto Appreciation Sprint, before going about his business entering the straight to win by 5 3/4 lengths from SHARAPOVA (2-1), covering the distance in the fairly good time of 1:06.4 despite running a bit green.
The rangy looking bay colt by Irish Quest out of the 1990 Derby and Guineas winner Distinctly Native, is owned by Hamark Farms and bred by Ken Gooden.
On a day when the fancied horses held their own, the 8-5 favourite DIXIE FLYER, ridden by Robert Reid for trainer Michael Silvera, won the Grooms' Association Trophy co-feature over the straight five course in decisive fashion.
The lone upset was provided by STING GRAY (made all) at 14-1 in Division II of the CTL Stable Riders' race over 800 metres straight. The 7-y-o grey mare was ridden by Marlon Beaufort for trainer Tensang Chung.
Division I provided a runaway victory for the 1-2 favourite KAYDENE, ridden by Damion Kaye for trainer Leroy Tomlinson.
