Crucial Cat wins feature

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Champion jockey Omar Walker, who rode his 400th winner on Wednesday, guided 3-5 favourite CRUCIAL CAT to a convincing win in the 3-y-o maiden special for the Dr Clifford Grey Memorial Cup over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Owned and trained by Carl 'Django' Anderson, the grey filly by Crucial Trial out of Chikiney disputed the lead with DIN'S SENORITA (5-1) on the inside and highly fancied LISTERAE (2-1) on the outside passing the half mile, before DIN'S SENORITA fell back from the 600-metre marker, leaving CRUCIAL CAT and LESTERAE to fight it out.

Both turned for home on level terms, but it was CRUCIAL CAT on the inside who found extra approaching the distance to win by 2 1/4 lengths from the Shane Ellis-ridden LESTERAE (4-1) in a seven-strong field.

Having finished second in her two previous races, Anderson said he was very confident that CRUCIAL CAT would deliver on this her 11th start.

"She sat in a 1:13.0 pace behind Merit's Brite Lite last time out and I knew no horse in the race could match that. So I told Walker to put her in front and save ground on the inside.

Hopes of further improvement

"Walker worked her at exercise and told me to take off the figure eight ... I think she'll get a distance of ground on the strength of her pedigree and my hope is that she continues to improve," said Anderson.

On a day when CAL introduced the overlapping Super-6, the eight-race programme produced four winning favourites in CRUCIAL CAT, SHE'S MAGIC at 3-5 in the opening sprint race, the Philip Feanny-trained 3-y-o filly BEYOND THE CLOUDS (the trainer's 1,797th career win) in the closing maiden race and 6-5 chance PRINCESS IRENE (made all), who providedBarbados-based Jamaican jockey Richard Lunan with his first win locally.