Mark My Word scores emphatic win

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

This year's Triple Crown winner, MARK MY WORD, turned in an awesome display to win the 3-y-o and up open-allowance feature for the Owen Silvera Memorial Cup over 1600 metres by a wide margin at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Installed a howling 1-4 favourite in a field of eight, MARK MY WORD, under customary rider, the Panamanian Dick Cardenas, won by 7 3/4 lengths in the smart time of 1:38.2, even though eased down in the last 100 metres.

Owned by Elite Bloodstock Limited, the classy three-year-old chestnut colt from the stables of Richard Azan was having his first outing since completing the Triple Crown by winning the RJR St Leger over 2000 metres - the season's final classic - on July 10.

Bred by HAM Stables Limited, the son of Market Rally - Miss Chestnut thus served notice that he will not be easily denied in the November 13 Superstakes over 2000 metres, as he seeks to become only the second horse behind 'Hall of Fame' inductee, THE VICEROY, to win the Triple Crown and Superstakes in the same season (1989).

third consecutive win

MARK MY WORD raced prominently in third as the lightly weighted SKITTLE QUEEN, with Georgina Sergeon aboard, led from topweight SHANGHAI PASS. Both American-bred horses were heads on approaching the half-mile, at which stage MARK MY WORD started his winning run, quickly disposing of SHANGHAI PASS approaching the home turn to win pulling a bus.

MARK MY WORD duly raced to his third consecutive win and his sixth from 10 starts this season. He is by far the season's leading stakes winner with $9.7 million.

Part owner Randy McLean, speaking on behalf of Elite Bloodstock, said after the failed attempt to get him to run in the upcoming Trinidad Derby on September 24, the plan was to start his Superstakes prep in this race.

"We knew he would win for we suspected he had more class than his opponents, but the manner in which he went about the task was mind-boggling," said McLean.

MARK MY WORD might next run in the grade-one Governor General's Stakes over 2000 metres on Heroes Day (October 17).

On a day when apprentice Robert Hallendeen took the riding honours with two winners, Georgina Sergeon was impressive with a bold front-running display aboard the Fitzroy Glispie-trained SPACE FURY (3-1) to win the Kenneth Mattis, OD, Trophy overnight allowance race over 2000 metres, in a driving finish from the Shane Ellis-ridden SLEDGE (12-1).