Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

THE SMOKER, running at odds of 17-1, upset his more fancied rivals to win the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race over 1300 metres for the Ash Wednesday Trophy, in decisive fashion, at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Ridden by non-claiming apprentice Javour Simpson in the red silks of owner David Delisser, THE SMOKER, coming from the stables of veteran trainer Noel Ennevor, won by a length from 5-1 shot CRUCIAL POINT under apprentice Andre Martin, with THUNDER SQUAD (8-1) finishing a farther 3 1/2 lengths away third in a field of nine.

The big disappointment was the performance of 6-5 favourite TOBAGO who could only manage seventh after disputing fourth position with THE SMOKER up to the half mile.

THE SMOKER was never far off the pace on the inside rails as THUNDER SQUAD led from highly-fancied BLUE MAGIC (5-2) who glided through under leading jockey Shane Ellis approaching the 600-metre pole.

Strong run

But BLUE MAGIC was worn by the ever-present CRUCIAL POINT approaching the distance. And no sooner had he taken over, along came THE SMOKER with a strong run on the outside to hit the front in the last 100 metres.

A 5-y-o grey gelding by Smokeshouse Sam out of the Restless Thief mare Lady Diana, THE SMOKER, who was bred by his owner, has now won six races and $1.7 million in stakes from 14 career starts.

Although out of luck aboard TOBAGO, Walker emerged the day's leading rider with three winners in 1-2 favourite NUMERO UNO in the third race, 2-5 favourite MISS TWIST in the fifth and 3-2 favourite NATURALLY ROYAL in the sixth, the Wayne DaCosta-trained gelding leading home his lesser-fancied, stable companion MARK TO MARKET (7-1) in the four-year-olds and up sprint.

Walker, who is set to receive three awards at tonight's None Such/Horse of the Year' awards dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus, pushed his season's tally to 13. He is now second in the standings - four adrift of Shane Ellis, who rode two winners in the three-year-olds PREMIUM VELOCITY and MACHISMO, both for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes.