Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Explosive Peak (left) is pushed out by veter jockey David 'Scorcher' McKenzie to win the Easter Sprint Cup in a driving finish from highly fancied Spanish Fleet (right), with Trevor Simpson aboard, at Caymanas Park yesterday. Offering odds of 10-1, Explosive Peak is owned by Elaine McMaster and trainer by her husband, Peter. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
EXPLOSIVE PEAK, ridden by 56-year-old veteran David 'Scorcher' McKenzie, out-finished former champion Trevor Simpson aboard highly fancied SPANISH FLEET by a neck to win the Easter Sprint Cup overnight allowance feature at odds of 10-1 at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Owned by Elaine McMaster (Miss Suckie) and trained by her husband Peter, the American four-year-old filly walked out of the starting gate in a field of 12, but she was in receipt of a patient ride from 'Scorcher', who kept his cool in the last furlong duel with 3-1 chance SPANISH FLEET to win in a driving finish, denying the Philip Feanny-trained colt consecutive win.
With EXPLOSIVE PEAK losing five lengths at the start, it was the fleet-footed TIME OF MY LIFE who led under pressure from another outsider DEARDREAMER in the 1100-metre race.
BADLY OUTPACED
Both raced two lengths clear of SPANISH FLEET passing the 600-metre pole at which stage the 3-2 favourite JUST SOME THOUGHTS found himself badly outpaced after experiencing traffic problems in the early stages.
EXPLOSIVE PEAK mended nicely on the outside approaching the home turn and came through as a team with SPANISH FLEET a furlong out. A neck and neck duel then ensued, but McKenzie never allowed himself to become flustered and riding out his mount with hands and heels as Simpson wailed away with the left-hand stick, gained the ascendancy in the last 100 metres for a narrow win.
The 41-1 outsider FLYING TIGER, who was a bit tardy at the start, finished fast into third place, ahead of SENOR GATO (7-1) and JUST SOME THOUGHTS who was always left with too much to do. THE MINISTER was declared a late non-starter.
MOMENT TO TREASURE
For McKenzie it was a moment to treasure. Riding his 257 winner in a career spanning over 40 years, punctuated by a break of over 25 years from the 70s to early this year, the jockey rode a copybook and declared afterwards:
"Them say mi a old man and mi done. But mi just a come.
"Right now a fitter than when a rode mi first winner (Emmanuel and Katie) on March 15, but had to overcome a poor start and rode a patient race. The filly responded well and I am happy."
Winning trainer McMaster praised McKenzie for a very enterprising ride.
"Callaloo (Wesley Henry) wanted the ride but I decided to give it to Scorcher and he rode her brilliantly.
"She was nice for this race so I told the jockey to put her in front. But when she missed the break I thought her chance had gone ... However, she loves the big occasion and made no mistake," said McMaster.
EXPLOSIVE PEAK was notching her sixth win from 17 starts locally. This, however, marked her third win in feature races, having win the RJR Classic last June and $1 million CTL Imported Stakes last September.
Simpson rode two winners on the holiday card in CALABASH BAY (5-2) and WILD ZONE (5-2), while in-form trainer Alroy Watson saddled two winners in FUTZ (2-1) and WHITE WATER (9-5).
