By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterREIGNING 'Horse of the Year' A KING IS BORN made a triumphant return to Caymanas Park yesterday in winning the 3-y-o and up Open Allowance race over 1200 metres in decisive fashion, his first outing in almost eight months.
Ridden by leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths for owner Hamark Farms (Howard Hamilton) and trainer Philip Feanny, the 2003 Guineas and Derby winner was early in the lead and proceeded to make all in a field of six.
He turned for home three lengths clear of the 5-2 second favourite RIVER JORDON who chased him relentlessly under champion jockey Trevor Simpson, but only had to be pushed out to win by 1 3/4 lengths from the Ken Mattis-trained gelding, covering the distance in the fairly good time of 1.11.4 (23.1, 46.2) under the top weight of 57kg.
The winner's lesser fancied stable-companion CAPTAIN BONE, an imported 3-y-o colt, was third several lengths away.
A KING IS BORN was making his first appearance since winning the valuable Digicel Cup over 1300 metres for top-class horses in a new stakes record time of 1:16.1 on August 30 last year.
FIVE WINS FROM SIX STARTS
Thereafter, the classy 4-y-o colt by Royal Minister out of the 1990 Derby winner Distinctly Native was sidelined by a bad stone and missed the Red Stripe Superstakes in November. But despite not racing in the last quarter, he was voted 'Horse of the Year' thanks to five wins from six starts in 2003, his only defeat coming in the July 5 Cable & Wireless Jamaica St. Leger when caught close to home by his lesser fancied stable-companion HERECOMESFUDGIE thus denying him triple crown glory.
Having worked exceptionally well in recent weeks, clocking three furlongs in a fantastic 33.2 on April 1, A KING IS BORN was installed a 1-5 favourite yesterday and made a big statement The King Is Back.
Hamilton said the performance was short of brilliant, but his charge merely did what he had to do and, in the circumstances, he was pleased with the outcome.
"He hadn't raced for eight months and although he was turning in bullet works at exercise, the real test is in competition," Hamilton said.
"I thought he did enough. He won a good race and we can take it from there."
According to reports, The King's next objective is the Chairman's Trophy over 1500 metres on Derby Day, June 12.
SECOND WINNER
Feanny had a second winner on the card in 4-5 chance GALINA POINT who made most to win the second race (non-winners of three) over 1400 metres. However, the 13-time champion trainer failed in his bid to complete a three-timer on the card when the howling 3-5 favourite KINKOTSU LIU LIU, who led in tearaway fashion under Trevor Simpson, was caught and beaten by the 5-1 chance XTRA ROYAL in the closing stages of the Portmore Community Trophy race over 1200 metres.
A 4-y-o chestnut filly by Royal Minister-Princess Ellen, XTRA ROYAL who was ridden by apprentice Andrew Nunes (deputising for Dane Nelson) without the use of a whip, is owned by Father & Son and trained by Owen Sharpe.
Meanwhile, 2-5 favourite THAT'S LIFE with Simpson riding for trainer Michael Hall, held on grimly to win the Meadowvale Citizens Association Trophy over 1200m by a neck from MANDALAY BAY (3-1), while RAINBOW CHASER (7-1) and the 9-5 favourite DRAMATICS won the respective sections of the Roderick 'Pilot' Francis Memorial Trophy race (claiming $140,000) also over 1200 metres.
