Medical Report will win many more races - Darby

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Trainer Ryan Darby feels the veteran campaigner, MEDICAL REPORT, has many more races to win, following his emphatic victory in the annual renewal of the Jockey Club Stakes over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

Running at odds of 6-1 with top apprentice Doushane Gordon riding for owner Raphael E. Gordon, MEDICAL REPORT duly chalked up his 22nd career win from 74 starts, this after chasing the front-running MR. BLAIR (5-1) into the straight and eventually going by approaching the distance. And when the ever-present REGGAE ROCK (4-1) loomed into second early in the last furlong, the nine-year-old bay gelding kept on strongly to beat him by 2 1/2 lengths.

The 2-1 favourite UNDAUNTED, racing for the first time in almost a year, stayed on to finish another 3 1/2 lengths away third in a field of 10.

Darby said he was confident MEDICAL REPORT would win, following his good effort behind CLASSY PROSPECT over 1300 metres the previous Saturday when finishing 3 1/2 lengths third.

Sharpened up

"Although not easy to train, that race sharpened him up for the Jockey Club Stakes. When I saw the rain coming down, I was happy," confessed Darby.

"I knew he enjoys galloping on a wet track and that made me even more confident," said the second generation trainer, who beat his father's horse, REGGAE ROCK, into second.

Ryan said when assessing the race, He knew his main danger would have been REGGAE ROCK as the favourite, UNDAUNTED, though classy on his best day, would have needed the race after a near one-year absence.

"Reggae Rock had been running consistently well, the trip was right and he was down in the weights. So I knew he was coming to run," added the young trainer, who was quick to add that MEDICAL REPORT, despite his advanced age, has more shots to fire providing he remains sound.

Most successful rider

Doushane Gordon emerged the day's most successful rider with two winners in MEDICAL REPORT and 9-5 favourite, ANTIOCH, in the closing Alex's Imports 'Dig Out' Handicap over 1200 metres.

Apprentice Ansley Dancel also rode two winners in 8-5 chance JEOPARDY in the third race and two-year-old debutante DONTSAYAWORD (13-1), for trainer Randolph Scott, in the fourth for maiden two-year-old fillies over 1200 metres.

The sixth race over 1200 metres resulted in a close finish, the 4-1 chance BLAZING STAR getting up in the nick of time to catch and beat highly fancied SAINT JACORY, under champion jockey Omar Walker, by a neck.

BLAZING STAR was ridden by apprentice Chalrick Budhai, replacing the declared rider, Aaron Chatrie (the season's leading apprentice), who was injured in a motor-vehicle accident in Portmore on Friday morning and was sidelined for the second consecutive raceday, having missed Friday's rescheduled meet.