The Guv romps home in LC McKenzie Mem

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

After his near-miss on May 22, the vastly improved grey colt,THE GUV, bounced back to winning ways at Caymanas Park yesterday with an impressive victory in the open allowance feature for the L.C. McKenzie Memorial Trophy over 1400 metres.

Installed an even-money favourite with top apprentice Doushane Gordon, riding for trainer Spencer Chung, THE GUV stormed through early in the straight to win by 3 3/4 lengths from the consistent American horse SHANGHAI PASS (6-1) under Panamanian jockey Ameth Robles with 5-1 chance. CHADMAN finishing a farther 1 1/2 lengths away third in a field of nine.

THE GUV was held off the early pace in fifth as highly fancied COMMANDER ZERO (8-5) led comfortably from SHANGHAI PASS and CHADMAN. COMMANDER ZERO left the half mile some three lengths clear under hot apprentice Jevvanne Erwin, but THE GUV was soon sent in serious chase and disposed of him in a flash early in the straight, moving away for an emphatic win. SHANGHAI PASS, rallying on the rails, outfinished fellow top weight CHADMAN (Omar Walker up) for second.

A three-year-old colt by Royal Minister out of Havasac, THE GUV chalked up his fifth win from seven starts this season and his fourth from his last five, having lost his previous race over 1820 metres on May 22 by a short head to the 2009 Superstakes winner HOMBRE, at the same time having the subsequent Triple Crown winner MARK MY WORD a nose behind in third.

Best strike rate

According to Chung, who has the best strike rate by any trainer this season, having saddled 11 winners from only 29 starters, THE GUV's long-term objective is the Superstakes to be run in November when he will once again come against the richest-ever Derby winner MARK MY WORD.

"I'm pleased with his progress", said Chung. "This win was confidently anticipated by us. We expected a fast pace and this suited The GUV, who started his winning run at the halfway stage and won in the pretty good time of 1:25.2," added the soft-spoken trainer, who is a former assistant to 14-time champion Philip Feanny.

Meanwhile, PAT ON CALL, running as the 2-1 second favourite with Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas in the saddle, duly completed a hat-trick of wins over 1100 metres when easily landing race No I in the second CTL Claiming Series. The six-year-old mare is owned by Harry Parsard and trained by Renex Burrell. Cardenas rode two winners on the card.

The second race, won by 12-1 shot ABIGAIL with female apprentice Georgina Sergeon (her 14th career win) aboard, turned out to be very eventful, as the early leader BRAWTA fell at the half-mile, resulting in TENSION and NOWOMANNOCRY losing their riders in the scuffle.

Jockey Leo Miller, who rode BRAWTA, sustained a fractured ankle and also hurt his right shoulder, while apprentice Richard Cole sustained injuries to his head and face.