Sergeon on the double

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Female apprentice Georgina Sergeon was at it again at Caymanas Park yesterday, booting home the last two winners on the card, including 3-1 chance LATIN KING in the Altamont V. Armond Memorial Cup feature (claiming $350,000-$300,000) over 2,000 metres.

Sergeon, who has long become the darling of local racing, also won the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race at 1,820 metres aboard even-money favourite LITTLE WASP. The American bred 5-y-o mare from the stables of champion-trainer Wayne DaCosta made all impressively to win by the resounding margin of 15¹/² lengths in the smart time of 1:55.2.

Although not as impressive in the closing race, LATIN KING powered home by 5¹/² lengths from 7-1 chance LA'S DANCER in a field of 12.

Owned by the Fire House Connection, the consistent eight-year-old horse from the stables of Welsh Soutar disputed the lead with MOJITA JAM (12-1), clear of CLASSY COMPANY in third passing the half mile, then pulled away leaving the quarter pole to post his 18th career win from 102 starts.

By Latin Charm out of Online, LATIN KING won as many as nine races last season, four with Sergeon aboard.

Meanwhile, Panamanian Dick Cardenas emerged the day's most successful rider with three winners - evens favourite SARAGOSSA, who romped the straight five race for three-year-olds, stable-companion TECHNOMOTO a 2-5 favourite in the sixth for maiden three-year-olds and WINCHESTER at 5-1 for trainer Richard Azan in the seventh race for three-year-olds over 1,100 metres.

The Anthony Nunes-trained SARAGOSSA truly impressed with a fast-time (59.1) win over the straight, this after disputing the lead with Sergeon's mount, ANNIE OAKLEY coming on to the main track, before lengthening his strides leaving the quarter pole to win by six lengths from the American filly NYABINGHI (6-5).

second win from four starts

A good mover, SARAGOSSA is a lightly raced bay colt by Saint Appeal out of Pretty Sammy Girl. This was his second win from four starts.

On a day when Nunes and Azan shared the training honours with two winners each, SARAGOSSA was one of five favourites to score on the 10-race programme. The others were 8-5 chance YES WE WILL under leading jockey, Shane Ellis in race five, TECHNOMOTO, LITTLE WASP and THE MESSENGER, who made amends for his near miss in the Mercury Sprint on the previous Saturday with a smooth victory in the maiden 3-y-o sprint.

UNDAUNTED, running at odds of 13-1 with apprentice Aaron Chatrie riding for owner/trainer Lazel Khwalsingh, provided the day's lone upset when capturing the second race (high claiming) over 1,200 metres in a driving finish from stable-companion NASATOL, a 6-1 winner last Sunday.