Priceless Beauty powers home

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Despite traffic problems, the progressive Canadian 4-y-o filly PRICE-LESS BEAUTY turned in a gutsy display to win the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race over 1400 metres, the feature event at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Installed a 4-5 favourite in a field of 14, PRICELESS BEAUTY, with champion jockey Omar Walker aboard, produced a tremendous late burst between horses in the last 100 metres to win by a length from the consistent three-year-old filly SHE'S SMOKING under 'jockey of the year' Dick Cardenas, with 10 chance REGGAE ROCK finishing another three-parts of a length away third.

It was REGGAE ROCK who made most, under pressure from the outsider SHEISMYHEART and THEBANDISLOOSE (5-1), with PRICELESS BEAUTY racing prominently in fourth and SHE'S SMOKING not far behind passing the half mile.

REGGAE ROCK carried the field into the straight, and although strongly challenged by SHE'S SMOKIN, only gave way midway through the last furlong. During all of this, PRICELESS BEAUTY was looming large between horses a furlong out, but was denied a clear run. But when she eventually saw daylight in the middle, produced a rare turn of foot to overhaul the Philip Feanny-trained SHE'S SMOKIN in deep stretch.

Owned by the Houston Stables and conditioned by Morris Powell, a leading contender for the 'Most Improved Trainer' award, PRICE-LESS BEAUTY duly completed a hat-trick of wins from only five starts locally.

Heading for the top

She is a dark bay filly by Kafwain out of the Great Gladiator mare Pretoria. She actually won at Woobine Park in Toronto before being imported into the island, and from all indications, is heading for the top.

Walker described her as a "beautiful filly who is going from strength to strength". He added that despite a rough passage during the race, PRICELESS BEAUTY responded in a flash when asked for her final effort, and that effect-ively sealed the issue.

Top-ten trainer, Powell, who had earlier saddled the first of two winners when 15-1 outsider REGAL RUN closed rapidly to win the sixth race for maiden two-year-olds, said he was pleased with the performance and promised that she'll be "an even better filly next year".

Similar to Powell, Walker had two winners on the card in PRICELESS BEAUTY and 4-5 favourite CONEYISLANDINVA-DER for trainer Edward Walker in the fourth race over the straight for maiden two-year-olds. He thus pushed his season's tally to 105, safely on course for a fourth consecutive jockeys' title.

Also riding two winners was five-time champion Trevor Simpson (Awesome Marque, Latent Power), while 2-1 favourite MOLTEN KING, with Paul 'Country' Francis aboard, was disqualified after passing the post first in the 'nightpan', and first place awarded to CARAZENYATTA (5-1), with the sparingly used Leroy Bartley riding for trainer Patrick Lynch.