Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Red General (second left), the only winner on yesterday's card for leading jockey Brian Harding, moves away from long-time leader Razzak (right) and Showdown (left), Trevor Simpson up, to win the eighth race for the Violet Armond Memorial Cup over 1600 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. He was a 9-5 favourite. - PHOTOS BY CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
HOT FAVOURITE THE SMOKER torched his rivals at Caymanas Park yesterday, scoring a runaway victory in the Andrew H.B. Aguilar Memorial Cup two-year-old feature over 1600 metres.
The first of two winners for jockey Kenyatta Davis and veteran trainer Noel Ennevor, THE SMOKER, racing for only the second time and installed a howling 1-5 favourite in a field of nine, disposed of the early leader MY BOY approaching the 600-metre marker and proceeded to turn the race into a one-horse procession.
Owned and bred by David Delisser, the grey gelding by Smokehouse Sam out of the Restless Thief mare Lady Diana had 9-1/2 lengths to spare over 6-1 chance GETAWAYBOY, who finished second four lengths clear of the 2-1 second favourite DIGITEC in third.
Ennevor, who saddled a second winner in the sparingly raced 4-y-o colt FUSILIER with Davis again at the helm, has high hopes for THE SMOKER.
A NICE COLT
"He's a nice colt and although not beating much today, the margin would suggest that he could hold his own among the better two-year-olds," said the trainer.
"We plan to run him again in the big Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over a mile on Boxing Day and see how he fares against stable-companion CHRISTMAS GIFT and RAMPAGE, the top two contenders in the two-year-old division at present," added Ennevor.
Later in the afternoon FUSILIER returned from a near 12-month respite to romp the restricted allowance race for the George Headley Jnr. Memorial Cup over 1400 metres.
Installed an even-money favourite, FUSILIER made all convincingly in a field of 10. He was chased by the well-backed RED I, but slipped away leaving the half-mile to win by 5-1/2 lengths from CONCORDE (4-1) with ARDRIGH finishing third.
Meanwhile, the $200,000 - $170,000 claiming race for the Violet Armond Memorial Cup was won in fine style by the 9-5 favourite RED GENERAL, the only winner for leading jockey Brian Harding on the card. He moved to 95 wins.
Reigning champion Trevor Simpson also rode one winner on the even-favourite KING JOSIAH in the fourth race, to remain four adrift on 91 with six racedays remaining.
On a day when MOZURI at 25-1 and SIR MOHANDAS BABA at 13-1 scored notable upsets, Davis and former champion Wesley Henry shared the honours with two winners apiece.
