Running Loose captures Marlowe Memorial Trophy

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

RUNNING LOOSE, toting the postage stamp impost of 45.5kg with the tiny apprentice Richard Cole aboard, stormed through early in the last furlong to win the Valbert Marlowe Memorial Trophy over 1800 metres in decisive fashion.

Offering odds of 7-2 in the restricted allowance III contest (non-winners of three other than), RUNNING LOOSE was held up in last position for the first half of the race as the 7-5 favourite ESQUIRE, under champion jockey Omar Walker, recovered quickly from a slow start to lead on the inside from the 54-1 outsider PRINCE RIDELL and GUAN YU (3-1) in a field of six.

Top gear

Although still behind coming into the straight, RUNNING LOOSE soon got into top gear. The four-year-old filly by Footloose III - Tawnee Princess - produced a rare turn of foot approaching the distance, charging through a narrow gap between horses at a crucial stage to win going away by four lengths, then had to survive a stewards' inquiry.

GUAN YU, who led early in the straight, kept on for second, just ahead of the well-backed PATARA (3-2), while ESQUIRE faded into fourth place. LORD ADMIRAL was declared a late non-starter.

Part-owned and trained by Morris Powell, RUNNING LOOSE completed a long-price double for Cole who won the preceding race for overnight allowance horses aboard the 68-1 outsider WILD GLITZ over 1600 metres.

Fifth on the rails

The seven-year-old gelding, who is co-owned by trainer Vin Edwards and his wife Monica, was never far off the pace in fifth on the rails passing the half mile as the 3-2 favourite SKITTLE QUEEN led at a fast clip, until giving way to the chasing pair of REGGAE ROCK (7-2) and PLEASURE FIGHT (5-1) as they swung into the straight. But WILD GLITZ was just getting into top gear on the rails at this stage and toting a mere 45.5kg, swept past the battling pair of REGGAE ROCK and PLEASURE FIGHT, leaving the furlong pole for an easy victory.

Edwards, who is president of the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers' Association, said he always had faith in this horse and was not surprised by the win.

"I knew he would enjoy the distance and now running with a light impost due to the apprentice's 4.0kg claiming allowance, delivered in a big way."

Later in the afternoon, the sparingly raced FULL SPECTRUM, running at odds of 16-1 with Oneil Mullings aboard, outfinished long-time leader and evens favourite BROTHERLY LOVE to win the sixth running of the Sports Journalists of Jamaica Trophy race over 1200 metres.

The winner, a sparingly raced six-year-old gelding, is owned by Kid Fresh and trained by Neville Cooper.