Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Leading jockey Brian Harding aboard 5-2 chance CHING SING (inside) is about to catch and beat champion jockey Trevor Simpson aboard the favourite ROYAL KINGDOM in the seventh race over 1500 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. Only a nose separated them at the finish. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
CHAMPION JOCKEY contenders Trevor Simpson and Brian Harding provided a treat for punters at Caymanas Park yesterday, winning five races on the 10-race programme including a dream clash in the seventh race for maiden three-year-olds.
With Harding (95 wins) starting the day three clear of reigning champion 'Slicer' Simpson, it was the latter who seized the early initiative by reeling off three wins in quick succession to draw level on 95 winners.
After failing to win aboard the first of his nine rides (Lady Atwaree) in the second race, Simpson wasted no time in finding his rhythm, winning the third race aboard 5-2 chance MY PLEASURE, then followed up in rapid fire with 6-5 favourite LA RUDE in the fourth and the 1-2 favourite TUTOR in the fifth race over the straight five course.
But while the advantage favoured Simpson to regain the lead at that stage, Harding wasn't going to roll over and play dead.
DUG DEEP
The seven-time Trinidadian champion jockey dug deep into his bag of tricks in the seventh race, produced the ride of his life in winning aboard 2-1 chance CHING SING, bringing the bay colt with a sustained run on the inside from early in the last furlong. In a stirring duel with Simpson's mount, the odds-on favourite ROYAL KINGDOM over the final 100 metres, CHING SING gained the ascendancy by a nose on the line in a tremendous head bob.
Caymanas Park buzzed with excitement long after the dust had settled, as Harding, between boos and cheers, regained the lead at 96-95.
CLOSED GAP
Although at the end of the day Simpson closed the gap going into Saturday's Gold Cup meet, Harding followed up with a second winner in the eighth race aboard 5-2 second favourite PRINCESS SONIA, leading home the Simpson-ridden favourite KING JOSIAH under a very cheeky ride to lead 97-95 with four racedays remaining.
Harding failed to claim his third winner when the 3-5 favourite DON'T STAY NAKED was beaten by 10-1 chance LADY ISIS (Dal Brown up) in the day's feature for the Paul Newman Memorial Trophy over 1600 metres, this contested by nine starters
It was Simpson's mount KEELER (5-1) who opened up a commanding lead over highly fancied ASTRO CRUNCH and DON'T STAY NAKED entering the straight. But she shortened in the last furlong and LADY ISIS, closing from well off the pace, stormed through to win by 4 1/2 lengths.
