- RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dane Nelson piloting the Wayne DaCosta-trained-2-5 favourite, DEARDREAMER, to victory in the 1100m Millard Ziadie Cup feature at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
JOCKEY DANE Nelson rode two winners at Caymanas Park yesterday, including his 100th winner, WILD AT HEART in the second race over the straight five course for maiden and untried two-year-olds.
The 21-year-old rider, a nephew of veteran lightweight jockey Robert Reid, wasted no time in going for his second century when booting home the 2-5 favourite DEARDREAMER in the Millard Ziadie Cup feature (claiming $350,000-$330,000) over 1100 metres.
Nelson, whose grandfather Horatio 'Musso' Nelson was also a jockey at Caymanas Park in the 60s and 70s, rode DEARDREAMER and smart debutante WILD AT HEART for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.
The five-time champion posted a third winner on the card in last season's most improved horse NASATOL (3-2) in the open allowance race over 1200 metres with Charles Hussey aboard.
Nelson said he had been looking forward to his 100th winner from before the end of 2005, but although it did not materialise then, he was happy to reach the milestone at last.
WORKING HARDER
"I think this will be a good year for me", said Nelson who ended his apprenticeship at the end of November. "I am working harder and on top of that I now have a very good agent in Donovan Wilson. The key is to remain focused and maintain my fitness level. This should enable me to move up the rankings", added Nelson who finished sixth to Brian Harding in the 2005 standings with 33 winners.
DEARDREAMER broke winging from the number one post position and proceeded to make all in a field of eight. Owned by Bitter Sweet, the American 5-y-o horse looked in danger of defeat when THE BARBARIAN, bidding for his fourth consecutive win, mounted a strong challenge on the outside entering the straight.
But according to Nelson, he had extra up his sleeve and when he asked DEARDREAMER to quicken, the son of Deerhound lengthened his strides approaching the distance to beat THE BARBARIAN (5-2) by 3 1/4 lengths with STORMY SKY (10-1) staying on for third.
DaCosta was not the only trainer to saddle three winners on the 12-race programme. Noel Ennevor followed suit with a three-timer, comprising the speedy three-year-old colt DANCING SAM (5-2) in the seventh race for three-year-olds over 1100 metres MEDICAL REPORT who scored a 20-1 upset under Dal Brown in the 11th race over 1600 metres for overnight allowance and the 7-5 favourite T.V. AD in the closing race over 1500 metres (non winners of three).
T.V. AD completed a three-timer for former champion jockey Shane Ellis who had earlier booted home the 3-y-o debutante MASANIELLO (7-5) for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes in the first and 9-5 favourite CAT LEGEND in the fifth over the circular nine course.
The year's first mid-week meet is scheduled for this Wednesday.
