Easy for Birdie My Love

BIRDIE MY LOVE sat in mid-pack down the backstretch, almost hidden in overcast conditions, improving rapidly into fourth off the home, before sweeping wide and powering past rivals in yesterday’s seven-furlong Allan E ‘Billy’ Williams Memorial.

Running at odds of 3-1 with three-kilo claiming apprentice Reyan Lewis, BIRDIE MY LOVE left even-money favourite, DRUMMER BOY and 17-1 outsider, SOY EL SENOR battling for second place from a furlong out, scoring a comfortable three-and-a-quarter length victory in a final time of 1:25.4.

DRUMMER BOY, who tried to make all, rallied for second place after being headed off by SOY EL SENOR, who circled the field from his wide draw but was left standing when BIRDIE MY LOVE pounced.

SOY EL SENOR eventually finished fifth, relegated close home by ZEPHYR and LICI’S PEPSI, respectively.

Trevor Simpson maintained his fine form, logging a two-timer for the second straight meet, going all the way with 2-1 chance EYE CANDY in the seventh at seven and a half furlongs before being handed the following race in the stewards’ room, benefitting from SWEETIE GIRL’s disqualification for bringing down EVASIVE ACTION at the start.

Ten winners for January

Simpson, on winter break from North America, ended the month on 10 winners, extending his lead in the jockeys’ standings by three wins over apprentice Christopher Mamdeen, who won the fifth event at five furlongs straight with 1-5 favourite CUSTER.

Other jockeys riding two winners were Robert Halledeen and Dane Nelson. Halledeen won the second aboard FOOT SOLDIER and the ninth aboard MIRABILIS.

Nelson booted home CHIEF SECRETARIAT in the fourth and SENTIENT in the sixth.

Racing continues at Caymanas Park on Saturday.