Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Pure Mud, the first of three winners for champion jockey Brian Harding, leads home the highly-fancied Queen of My Heart (Wesley Henry) in the Rameses Trophy over 1600 metres, the supporting feature at Caymanas Park yesterday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

For the second consecutive Wednesday, champion jockey Brian Harding rode three winners at Caymanas Park to cement his claim for a second title with only one month of the season remaining.

His winners on yesterday's 10-race midweek programme were PURE MUD at 3-5 for 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny in the opening race for the Rameses Trophy over 1600 metres, GRAND PRIX at 2-1 for trainer Tensang Chung in the third race over 1500 metres and the Dwight Chen-trained CHIPONYOURSHOULDER at 3-1 in the seventh race for the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup for native bred maiden two-year-olds over 1400 metres.

As a result, Harding has pushed his season tally to 86 - nine clear of closest rival Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry who rode one winner in 9-1 chance BLACK CAT in the second race.

Strong challenge

In the Rameses Trophy, Harding settled PURE MUD in second position as the highly-fancied QUEEN OF MY HEART made most of the running. PURE MUD challenged strongly entering the straight and after a brief duel with QUEEN OF MY HEART, gained the ascendancy approaching the distance to beat her by 2-3/4 lengths in a field of six. The winner, an American-bred 3-y-o filly, is owned by Howard Hamilton.

Later in the afternoon, Harding was out of luck aboard 4-5 favourite AD INFINITUM in the Gladiator Trophy feature over 1400 metres, having suffered interference from CLASSY BOY PETE on leaving the starting gate, dropping back to last position as a result.

From then on, AD INFINITUM was fighting a losing battle, victory going to his lesser-fancied stable-companion ALPHA LUPA (9-2) with Paul 'Country' Francis aboard.

Found gear

Never far off the pace in fourth as CHADMAN (9-2) led comfortably from MEDICAL REPORT (9-2) and UNTOUCHABLE (20-1), ALPHA LUPA was produced three wide entering the straight. She went by CHADMAN approaching the distance and when UNTOUCHABLE loomed large on the inside early in the last furlong, found another gear to beat him by a length.

Following a Stewards' inquiry, fourth past the post CLASSY BOY PETE was disqualified for causing interference to AD INFINITUM at the start and AD INFINITUM promoted to fourth in the seven-strong field. ROYAL RUN was a late non-starter.

An American-bred grey filly by Wolf Power out of Mips, ALPHA LUPA, who is something of a specialist over the distance, is trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes for his wife, Tara. In the past six months she has won the L.C. McKenzie Memorial Cup and the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission Trophy races, both over 1400 metres.

Trainer Tensang Chung posted two winners in GRAND PRIX and CRUISING ALTITUDE, while the improving apprentice Harriston Lewis booted home two in 3-5 favourite CAT-UD-RAY and 5-2 chance INTROSPECTION.