Sea Devil lasts home

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

SEA DEVIL notched her fourth consecutive win at Caymanas Park yesterday, staving off the fast-finishing HERROYALHIGHNESS by a length in the War Zone Sprint Trophy restricted stakes over 1100 metres, this confined to native bred three-year-olds.

Ridden by Shane Ellis for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes and owner Elias Haloute, SEA DEVIL, running as the 3-5 favourite in an eight-strong field, raced prominently

in third as the fleet-footed MISS LEE (6-1) led from LADY GEETADEO (39-1). She started her winning run when improving into second at the halfway stage, eventually disposing of MISS LEE early in the straight.

Outpaced

HERROYALHIGHNESS (4-1), who was outpaced towards the rear of the field, closed rapidly on the rails to get within a length of SEA DEVIL, who covered the distance in the smart time of 1:05.4 on a muddy surface. This equalled the stakes record set by another 3-y-o filly, SI MI TRIAL, on May 14, 2005.

According to her trainer, SEA DEVIL's major objective is the Caribbean Sprint to be run on 'Superday', Saturday, November 13. Nunes said he was pleased with her progress, echoing the sentiments of winning rider Ellis.

"She's a very nice filly with tremendous scope ... . She can be anything right now," said the 2000 champion jockey.

Earlier on the nine-race programme, the Richard Azan-trained HEBIOUS CORPUS (7-1), with Dane Nelson aboard, outfinished his more fancied stable companion, TURBINE (7-2), by three-quarter length to win the round five Stewards' Cup for native bred two-year-old colts and geldings.

UNCLE KEN, the 3-2 marginal favourite ahead of INVICTUS (8-5), missed the break in the 11-strong field, as TURBINE led from SKIPPING BOY (4-1), with HEBIOUS CORPUS not far adrift.

Successful challenge

HEBIOUS CORPUS successfully challenged TURBINE early in the last furlong for a narrow win, as UNCLE KEN closed rapidly into third, two lengths away.

Both the winner and runners-up are owned by Elite Bloodstock Limited and trained by Richard Azan. HEBIOUS CORPUS is a chestnut colt by Traditional out of Doc's Paladin, bred by HAM Stables.

Meanwhile, GRACE MARIE (5-2), with apprentice Aaron Chatrie aboard, ran on strongly to catch and beat the 28-1 outsider LATIN KING by a neck in the Cecil C. Charlton Trophy race (high claiming) over 1300 metres.

Chatrie (Grace Marie, Crucial Cat), Richard Mitchell (Vonal-mighty, Three Queens) and champion Omar Walker (Just A Cat, Salute To Mom) shared the riding honours with two winners each.