Priceless Beauty wins feature

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The lightly raced but progressive Canadian-bred 4-y-o filly PRICELESS BEAUTY justified favouritism in the second running of the United Racehorse Trainers' Association Trophy race over 1820 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday, but her victory was by no means impressive.

Fresh from her fast-time runaway victory over 1600 metres on November 6, PRICELESS BEAUTY was backed as if defeat was out of the question as the 1-9 favourite in a field of seven.

But after assuming the lead from HEARTOFACHAMPION (12-1) leaving the half mile and turning for home a clear leader, she shortened in the last furlong.

She had to be driven out by champion jockey Omar Walker in order to stave off the fast-finishing 13-1 outsider PAT N GOLD under lightweight jockey Peter 'Pam Pam' Bryan by three-quarter length.

In a post-race interview, trainer Morris Powell said although she was coming back in the closing stages, all did not go right with her during the race.

"She came back bleeding, having injured her left hind leg when the owner's other horse, Alexa's Song, stepped on her going into the clubhouse turn.

"If that wasn't enough, she finished with a sore mouth. Although driven all out in the closing stages, her time of 1:56.1 was pretty good.... We'll put her down and decide where next to run her," said Powell, who has shown marked improvement with his string of horses this season, so much so that he holds down eighth position in the trainers' standings with $9.3 million.

Owned by Houston Stables, PRICELESS BEAUTY has now won twice - from four starts - since making her local debut on August 25. Owners' representative, Marcos Dabdoub, said the Kafwain - Pretoria filly won a race at Woodbine in Toronto last year before moving to Philadelphia Park, where she failed to win after several attempts.

Sluggish start

Earlier in the afternoon, the course specialist MARK TO MARKET recovered from a sluggish start to win race No. 5 in the CTL Claiming Series ($250,000- $210,000) over the straight-five course in a driving finish from the Walker-ridden 4-5 favourite DANCING SAM.

Ridden by top apprentice Doushane Gordon for trainer Lawrence Freemantle, MARK TO MARKET assumed the lead in mid track at the halfway stage and held on grimly to win in the smart time of 58.1. Although out of luck aboard DANCING SAM, Walker emerged the day's top rider with three winners in PRICELESS BEAUTY, HIGH SOCIETY at 5-1 for trainer Wilfred Chin in the opening race and the speedy ALESIA WAY (made all) at 6-1 for trainer Heaton Thomas in the second race.