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Nelson notches 400th win

Published:Thursday | October 7, 2010 | 12:00 AM
TRACKING SO SOFTLY, who provided jockey Dane Nelson (centre) with his 400th career win at Caymanas Park yesterday, is led back to the winners' enclosure by her owner Fitzroy Davidson (left) and Alfred Davidson after her decisive win in the third race over 1100 metres. She won at odds of 5-1. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Top-line jockey Dane Nelson notched his 400th career win aboard 5-1 chance TRACKING SO SOFTLY in the third race at Caymanas Park yesterday and wasted no time in going for his fifth century with another win on the card.

The 26-year-old jockey, who is popularly called 'The Warrior King', also won aboard 4-5 favourite BELOW THE WAIST in the eighth race over 1500 metres for open allowance horses.

Nelson, who hails from a noted racing family, is the grandson of former '60s champion jockey Horatio 'Mussu' Nelson, and the nephew of veteran lightweight jockey Robert Reid. And Dane's father is former local trainer Robert Nelson.

The jockey said he was always confident of winning the 1100-metre race aboard the Steadman Curtus-trained TRACKING SO SOFTLY, having partnered the five-year-old mare to victory when winning her first race over this very same trip on March 3.

Despite this, TRACKING SO SOFTLY was sent off at the generous odds of 5-1 and after chasing the leader, IKAS (4-1), into the straight, went by leaving the furlong pole to beat her by 2 1/4 lengths.

Nelson said he was aware of the milestone and was happy to be riding in top form at this stage of his career.

Not an easy road

"The journey has not been easy, but I have tried at all times to report in top share and give of my best. This has enabled me to come a long way since I started riding as an apprentice in the latter part of 2002 and my hope is that I will continue to remain injury-free," he said.

A 2002 graduate of the Jockeys' School, Nelson rode his first winner, GUARDIAN ANGEL, in January of 2003 and has not looked back.

Leading all-time jockey, Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths, is on the threshold of another milestone in his long and illustrious career.

Five-time champion

Yesterday, the five-time champion, who turned 52 last month, booted home 6-5 favourite MY LADY in the Flossie McNeil Memorial Cup feature over 1200 metres, the three-year-old filly scoring by all of six lengths from 8-5 second favourite TREND SETTER.

Griffiths is only two wins away from riding his 1600th winner.

Trainer Desmond Shand, who saddled MY LADY, had a second winner on the card in 4-5 favourite SHE'S ROYAL, while Nelson and Doushane Gordon rode two winners each and the Eddie Hamilton-trained EARTHWINDANDFIRE romped the Monica Todd Memorial Cup as the 3-5 favourite.