Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

The 2006 Digicel Derby winner, RANSOM MAN, returned from a five-month absence to win the non-winners of three one-mile race at Caymanas Park yesterday with Charles Hussey riding for his brother Percy and owner Phillip Azar.- Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

THE STRAIGHT specialist DOUBLE BOW, racing for the first time since mid-December, made all the running to win the George HoSang Trophy race over the straight five course in a driving finish from the 8-5 favourite BULLET TRAIN yesterday at Caymanas Park.

Ridden by smart apprentice Jason Simpson for owner/trainer Donovan Bruce, the five-year-old bay gelding was early in the lead on a sloppy track, ahead of BULLET TRAIN and COMMANDING LIGHT in a field of 10.

As they galloped out of the chute out on to the main track, BULLET TRAIN on the outside loomed for a challenge, but DOUBLE BOW responded readily to the whip to hold him at bay in the closing stages, winning by 1 1/4 lengths as COMMANDING LIGHT (11-1) kept on for third.

By Law Of The Sea out of Tropical Fling, DOUBLE BOW has now won six races from only 13 career starts, four of them coming over his pet trip.

Simpson, who is popularly called 'Gary', booted home a second winner on the annual Jamaica Jockeys' Guild 10-race programme in 6-5 favourite SHINING SUN.

The bay gelding went wire-to-wire in the Jamaica Jockeys' Guild Trophy race over 1400 metres (non-winners of two) for five-year-olds and up, winning by 6 1/2 lengths. SHINING SUN is owned by Ram and trained by Frank Parham.

won in fine style

The Brian Harding Trophy race over the circular nine course was won in fine style by the 20-1 outsider FIDDLE STICKS with in-form Richard 'Biah' Mitchell riding for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes.

Outpaced a bit as the howling 3-5 favourite SCHIZANDRA attempted to make all, FIDDLE STICKS, a lightly-raced filly, made rapid headway on the inside rails to sweep by SCHIZANDRA passing the 600-metre pole, powering home by all of 8 1/4 lengths from DESIGNED FOR LUCK in a field of nine maiden three-year-olds.

The 2006 Derby winner RANSOM MAN, ridden by Charles Hussey for his brother Percy, made all under pressure from BELLA IN BLOOM to win over a non-winners of three 1600-metre race in workman-like fashion, his first outing since October.

However, his presence in a race of this nature drew widespread criticism as it was felt that being a winner of a major graded stakes like the Derby, the condition should have been amended in such a way that it would have restricted him.

FLAME OF VICTORY, running at odds of 9-5 with Wesley Henry riding for trainer Harry Sital, won the closing straight five race for the Al Gopie Memorial Cup in adriving finish from 7-2 chance AVALANCHE.