Bullet Line in the nick of time

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The 19-1 outsider, BULLET LINE, produced a devastating last-furlong run to win the Calvin O'Sullivan Memorial Cup overnight allowance event in an exciting three-way photo finish at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Ridden by in-form female apprentice Georgina Sergeon for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and owner Alexander Haber, BULLET LINE found herself outpaced by the speedsters SHEISMYHEART (99-1) and QUICK & GRAY (13-1) in the circular nine feature to the extent she was last but one in the 12-horse field approaching the half-mile.

With the 7-5 favourite VON-ALMIGHTY coming through on entering the straight, along with REGAL SENSATION (9-2) and highly fancied UNDAUNTED (4-1) rallying on the inside after suffering interference at the half-mile, the stage was set for a thrilling finish.

win by a nose

REGAL SENSATION and UNDAUNTED went by VONAL-MIGHTY midway the last furlong, then along came the lightly weighted BULLET LINE with a terrific burst of speed in the last 100 metres to snatch the race on the line, winning by a nose from REGAL SENSATION (Dick Cardenas up), with the luckless UNDAUNTED another short head away third with top apprentice Aaron Chatrie aboard.

Sergeon said she was seemingly in a hopeless position at the halfway stage, boxed in by SLEDGE at that point.

"But I have won with BULLET LINE in the past, knew she had a good turn of foot so I wasn't surprised that she flew the last furlong to win in the nick of time," said Sergeon, who marked her 39th career win.

Meanwhile, Chatrie, who rode two winners on the card, had better luck aboard 4-5 favourite SALUTE TO MOM in the day's secondary feature for the Roderick 'Pilot' Francis Memorial Trophy (claiming $180,000) over 1200 metres.

One of two winners on the card for trainer Anthony Subratie as well, SALUTE TO MOM ran on strongly from just off the pace to catch and beat the battling leaders ROJO (18-1) and FIRST EDITION (4-1) close home, winning by a neck.

SALUTE TO MOM was one of three favourites to score on the nine-race programme, which saw BULLET LINE providing the only major upset, ensuring a $4.2 million Pick-9 carryover.