'Life' triumphs

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

LIFEISJUSFORLIVING, running as the 3-2 favourite with champion jockey Omar Walker riding for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, stamped his class to win the $3.3-million Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup over 2000 metres in decisive fashion at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Owned by Edmund Thomas' Church Pen Farm, the three-year-old chestnut gelding, who was unraced as a two-year-old, held on by 11/2 lengths from the fast-finishing PRINCE ROHAN (26-1) under star apprentice Aaron Chatrie in a field of 15 native-bred three-year-olds.

JUNIOR MINISTER, the 2-1 second favourite, finished another 2 1/2 lengths third after being hindered approaching the final bend. The Anthony Nunes-trained colt, who was a fast-finishing third to MARK MY WORD in the April 5 2000 Guineas, was a chance ride for Devon A. Thomas after the declared rider, Shane Ellis sustained injury to his shoulder aboard CIO MOTO leaving the starting gate in the fourth race. Fourth went to the DaCosta-trained EXCELLENCE (5-1) who was second to GABIWITZO in the recent Oaks.

Significantly, DaCosta was not around to saddle LIFEISJUSFORLIVING, EXCELLENCE or his third runner TRIAL LAWYER yesterday, having gone on a cruise with his wife, Elizabeth. All three horses were saddled by his assistant-trainer Linval 'Pickens' McFarlane, former champion groom and recipient of the coveted None Such award, some years ago.

superior speed

It was the 73-1 outsider TRIAL LAWYER under veteran jockey Allen Maragh who showed superior speed on the wet surface to lead comfortably from stable-companion LIFEISJUSTFORLIVING, GLOBAL WARMING (13-1) and EXCELLENCE as they passed the stands for the first time, at which stage the slow-starting PRINCE ROHAN was tailed off.

Walker, however, was content to bide his time in second until making his winning move at the half mile, going by TRIAL LAWYER in a flash at this stage.

He turned for home three lengths clear of GLOBAL WARMING and EXCELLENCE, then stayed on well in the underfoot conditions to record his fifth win from six career starts.

With this victory under top weight of 56.0kg, 'LIFE' has sent his stock soaring for the June 19 Jamaica Derby in which he will come face to face with his Guineas conqueror MARK MY WORD.

Walker is convinced that LIFEISJUSFORLIVING will get the Derby distance.

"He knows how to relax now and if you noticed how I rode him today, I will just need to hold him together a while longer and his class could do the rest.

"He had been working impressively for today's race and in light of this, I was pretty confident", said the three-time champion jockey, who added that 'Life' could be something special.

By Region Of Merit out of Bold Queen, LIFEISJUSFORLIVING was bred by the Orange Valley Estates Limited which accounted for five winners on the Supreme Ventures Limited 12-race programme - postponed from Labour Day (May 24) due to social unrest in the Corporate Area.

Pick-9 elusive

Meanwhile, the Pick-9 proved elusive for a 10th consecutive race day and the carryover to Wednesday's meet stands at a whopping $14.3 million.

Another noteworthy performance on the card was turned in by the crack native filly SAINT CECELIA (Maragh up), who made all impressively under top weight of 60.5kg to win the $1.3-million Lotto Sprint over 1100 metres for grade one horses, covering the distance in a new stakes record time of 1:04.2.