- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Lester Spaulding (left), chairman and managing director of the RJR Communications Group, presents the RJR Classic Trophy to trainer Dwight Chen who posted the American filly ZAMA to win the fifth running of the valuable overnight allowance race over 1500 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. Chen saddled three winners on the 10-race programme.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
THE FIFTH running of the RJR Classic lived up to expectations at Caymanas Park yesterday, the winner ZAMA getting home in a spectacular blanket finish involving five horses.
Installed a 2-1 favourite with title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis aboard, the American 3-y-o filly completed a sparkling triple for trainer Dwight Chen on the 10-race programme, his first since he started training in the last quarter of 2001.
Chen also posted OH NO GRANDPA (7-2) to win the second race for the Radio 2 Music and Sports Lifestyle Trophy over 1100 metres for maiden three-year-olds and the highly thought of 3-y-o gelding CHOSEN ONE, who made all impressively under champion jockey Trevor Simpson in the TvJ Prime Time News Trophy race over a mile. CHOSEN ONE was one of three winners for Simpson.
In the RJR Classic over 1500 metres (overnight allowance), the rank outsider FOURPOINTNINE (96-1) and LADY KAYLA (19-1), both American bred three-year-old fillies, had a battle for the lead from soon after the start in the 14-strong field. Ellis, who was content to bide his time in third aboard ZAMA, made his winning move from the 600-metre pole.
She grabbed the lead on the inside rails entering the straight and under a determined ride held a 'wall of horses' at bay in a thrilling finish, the sort befitting a race of this nature.
WON BY A NECK
ZAMA won by a neck from the 5-2 second favourite FORMALLY GOLD (5-2) under apprentice Dane Nelson in the middle, with a nose to the fast-finishing PEACE & LOVE (5-1) with Charles Hussey up on the wide outside. Also involved in the blanket finish was 7-2 chance GOOD COMPANY, who finished a close-up fourth under champion jockey Trevor Simpson.
This was ZAMA's second win from her last three starts. She is owned by Mercedes Gold, who purchased her in a package deal with INTERNET COMMANDER and GIVE IT THE GAS as yearlings in Florida's Ocala Sale two years ago.
Trainer Chen said he was happy with the outcome, considering that ZAMA sustained a stone squeeze on Sunday and had to miss her workouts early in the week.
"She only came back to the track on Thursday morning and did enough to satisfy me that she could win this race."
Jockey Ellis said he rode the filly to instructions and it worked out beautifully.
"The trainer told me that if the early pace was too fast to bide my time in third and then kick her on from the three-furlong pole. And I did just that... In the end she had to fight to win but she's a real fighter".
The Lester Spauling Gold Cup race for two-year-olds was won in fine style by the debutante ALL FOR PLEASURE, ridden by Simpson for many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny.
This being the RJR Corporate raceday, the annual Golden Microphone Awards function, held under the tent on the infield, saw Grace Kennedy Company Limited and CGR Communications Limited (for the second consecutive year) named the top Advertiser and top Advertising Agency respectively. The Silver Microphone Awards went to Marketing Counsellors (agency) and Red Stripe (client).
Entertainment was provided by Tony Rebel, Blacka Ellis and up and coming singing group Inque, among others.
