Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

RAJPUT, RUNNING at odds of 32-1 with Larris Allen aboard, scored a stunning upset in yesterday's Caymanas Park feature race for the Aston Commock Memorial Cup over 1700 metres.

Owned by Errol Newman and trained by the veteran Charles Morrissey, RAJPUT responded to a strong ride from Allen up the lane to win by a length from 22-1 shot STREET FIGHTER, who in turn was three-quarters of a length ahead of the 2-5 favourite THE SMOKER in third.

Nine contested the restricted allowance III event for four-year-olds and up.

The 99-1 outsider SEA CRACKERS led for the first half of the race, ahead of STREET FIGHTER, OLE KING COLE and THE SMOKER with RAJPUT not far off the pace in fifth.

Notable win

Progressing all the time, RAJPUT went by new leader OLE KING COLE entering the straight and, with Allen applying a torrid left-hand stick, the five-year-old out of Outrigger-Peace Line kept on bravely along the rails for a notable win over a distance widely believed to be out of his depth.

But Allen, who is popularly called 'Mego', had other ideas.

"It was the first time that I was riding this horse but I've worked him at exercise and knew what to expect," Allen said.

"Most people felt he was aimed too far as he is basically a sprinter. But I noticed that he has been staying on a bit with age. The trainer instructed me to let him feel the bit. He warned me that the horse was a quitter and if I turned for home in front, I was to whip him up vigorously to the line," said the jockey.

On what was by no means a good day for form players, four riders notched doubles. Among them was leading jockey Trevor Simpson who pushed his season tally to 36 after winning aboard the unbeaten three-year-old filly OUTSTANDING for trainer Billy Williams and the American filly PURE MUD (5-2) for leading trainer Philip Feanny in the open allowance race over 1700 metres.

Also riding two winners were title-chasing Oneil Mullings (Time Of My Life, Firetrain) along with the apprentices Carlton Malcolm (Rigmarole, Gi Dem A Run) and Jason Simpson (9-1 shot Laws Of Luvve, King Isaac).

Trainers Feanny (Firetrain, Pure Mud) and Gary Subratie (Rigmarole, Gi Dem A Run) shared the training honours with two winners each on the 11-race programme.