Top Man upsets at 11-1 in Morrison Mem feature

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

TOP MAN at 11-1 and BACK AT YOU, running at odds of 7-2, shared the honours in winning their respective co-feature races at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Despite scoring decisively in maiden company last Saturday, TOP MAN was allowed to start at very generous odds in the second race for the Joshua Morrison Memorial Cup (4-y-o and up non winners of two) over 1500 metres.

With the 4.0kg claiming apprentice Arthur Budhu again in the saddle, TOP MAN assumed the lead from SPONGY SPONGY (3-1) leaving the 600-metre marker and moved away to win by 3 3/4 lengths from the highly fancied GENERAL CURLIN in a field of seven.

Even-money favourite

A bay colt by Kerrygold out of Andrea's Choice, TOP MAN who carried a mere 49.0kg is owned by the Businessman and trained by Barry Dawes. In this race, KING FERDINAND, who was expected to lead, decked his rider leaving the gates and ran loose.

Later in the afternoon, the howling even-money favourite, RAJPUT, broke down when assuming the lead from DESIGNED FOR LUCK (3-1) at the 600-metre point in the sixth and final race of the CTL Claiming Series, also over 1500 metres. This paved the way for the ever-present BACK AT YOU (7-2) under Devon A. Thomas to hit the front on the inside entering the straight before moving away to win by all of nine lengths from MISS ATLANTIC STAR (6-1) in a field of seven.BACK AT YOU is owned by Uprising and trained by Deon Facey.

The seven-year-old mare by Kammtarra out of Back Flack was notching her second win from 13 starts this season, having won her previous race over 1200 metres on May 29.

Meanwhile, trainer Lawrence Freemantle posted two winners on the nine-race programme to emerge the day's top performer.

High claiming event

His winners were the even-money favourite NATURAL DESIRE, who disposed of long-time leader SIR ARCHIBALD early in the straight to romp the high claiming event over 1820 metres and 4-5 favourite PAT ON CALL who just held on to win the closing Alex's Imports 'Dig Out' Handicap over 1100 metres by a short head.

Ridden by Kerry-Gayle Robinson, PAT ON CALL disputed the lead with highly fancied NO RUMOUR (2-1) into the straight and after gaining the ascendancy leaving the furlong pole, just lasted from the fast-finishing MISTER OFFICER (9-2) in a field of 13 bottom of the barrel claimers.

With hot favourites such as RAISE A RUCKUS, PALACE GOLD and RAJPUT biting the dust, the Pick-9 again proved elusive and the carry-over going into Saturday's race meet stands at $3.7 million.