(Doushane's First Triple) Sat. Oct. 17, 2009.
(Caymanas Park) Sat. Oct. 17, 2009.
by Warren Hamm
Recent graduate from the Jamaica Racing Commission’s Jockey Training School apprentice Doushane Gordon highlighted the Supreme Ventures Limited sponsored raceday with a triple.
Gordon, who holds the distinction of being the first from the recent batch to ride a double, had the admiration of many when booting home Honeyofalady for trainer Dwight Chen in the None Such Sprint Trophy over 1200 metres.
Sent off at odds of 4-1 in the six-horse field, including the 4-5 favourite Ahwhofah, Honeyofalady led from the gate but gave way only to the fleet footed Racing Machine after a furlong.
Racing Machine proceeded on the front end to the home turn where Honeyofalady’s sustained bid took her into a challenging position at which stage Ahwhofah raced just off the pace in third.
Always full of running Honeyofalady not only soon forged ahead but turned back a two-pronged attack from Ahwhofah (Omar Walker up) and Working Image under Dick Cardenas in the ensued run to the wire to score by 1 1/2 length.
Chen, who owns the imported three-year-old bay progeny of Snow Ridge out of the Northern Prospect mare Ahoneyofabunny in part as Combo, incited: “Her (Honeyofalady’s) last (winning) time was testament she’s vastly improved and with today’s (1:11 4/5 seconds) clocking just as impressive, she is going to be mighty tough in the coveted mile event for importees come ‘Super Day’ (November 14).
Improving her bankroll to Jm$3.13 million, Honeyofalady has won seven from ten starts to date.
Gordon, who just missed out on a four-timer where he went under by a mere nose astride Neptune in the eighth event, opened the card when teaming up with the odds on favourite Honey Bunny for Philip Feanny and was to close the three-timer aboard Joseph Thomas’ Spacesaver in the ninth event.
“The feeling’s no different… it’s all in a day’s work to ride a triple,” Gordon professed, coyly indicating it’s nothing to be overly exuberant about.
Besides the None Such Sprint Trophy all the races on the 11-race card came under the Supreme Ventures Limited flagship bearer Cash Pot.
The Shane Ellis ridden Al Fouzia (4-5 favourite) duly obliged in the Cash Pot “Only One For Me” Trophy over 1200 metres, race one in the lucrative Supreme Ventures Limited sponsored series dubbed the ‘The Ultra Rich Triple Series’, which offers total prize money of Jm$11.8 million, including a million dollar bonus to the owner of the two-year-old who made a clean sweep of the three races.
The series, now in its fifth year, will continue on November 28 with the $3.6 million Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy over 1400 metres and culminate on December 26 (Boxing Day) with the Supreme Ventures Limited Jamaica 2-y-o Stakes over 1600 metres for a whopping purse of $4.25 million.
Trained by Rowan Mathie, Al Fouzia took up the chase on a seemingly unmatchable Prince Theo (5-2) in the hands of title chasing Paul Francis approaching the last furlong and dug in determinedly to lead in deep stretch, winning by a length.
Closing late into second to further relegate a weakening Prince Theo by 1/2 length was Inoja (13-1) partnered by Dane Nelson.
“I’m living a dream,” expressed Mathie on his way to the winners’ enclosure to rejoin the talented filly.
“I was overwhelmed with pre-race confidence but became somewhat worried when she was left flat footed halfway into the race… but her ‘motors’ kicked in at the right time,” Mathie expressed with a sigh of relief.
Sporting the maroon, black & white silks of Farasfhal Farm, Al Fouzia stopped the clock at 1:14.0 and the two-year-old bay daughter of Legal Process out of the Liver Stand mare Lady Bakul has now earned for herself Jm$2.4 million after six starts inclusive of three wins – in a row.