Treasure Girl, Jet Setter oblige in co-features

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Favourites TREASURE GIRL and JET SETTER did their classic prospects a world of good at Caymanas Park yesterday, capturing the 17th running of the Hot Line and Sir Howard Stakes, respectively, both over 1200 metres.

TREASURE GIRL, running as the 1-2 favourite with leading jockey Shane Ellis aboard, romped home 2 1/2 lengths clear of 3-2 second favourite, SWEET TRAIL, in the Hot Lines Stakes.

Thirty minutes later it was the turn of JET SETTER to spreadeagle the colts and geldings in the Sir Howard Stakes.

Installed a 2-5 favourite with 2.0kg claiming apprentice Richard Mairs riding for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and owner/breeder Winston Kong, JET SETTER won by four lengths from 7-2 chance BIG MAN BOYU, who outfinished SMOKING MAN (3-1) by 1 1/2 lengths for third in a field of nine.

Highly fancied

In the Hot Line Stakes, the highly fancied SWEET BROWNING was declared a late non-starter, having gone lame.

This made the task of TREASURE GIRL somewhat easier and after racing in touch of long-time leader BLENDER (23-1) and SWEET TRAIL, she disposed of both approaching the distance to chalk up her second consecutive win on this her third outing.

Trained by Gary Subratie, the bay filly by Golden Gear out of Teresa Belle had previously won the Eight Thirty Sprint on January 22. She is owned by the president of the Trinidad & Tobago Owners' Association, Baskaran Bassawh, who, accompanied by his wife Maureen, flew in specifically for the race; along with Juan Navarro, a big-time owner in T&T; and the Barbadian Mark Woodridge, a former president of the West Indian Thoroughbred Racing Association.

Nice filly

"Treasure Girl was purchased to race in Trinidad, but we decided to try our luck in Jamaica with a view to running her in the 1000 Guineas on April 2.

"After the Guineas we will make a decision whether she stays here or is shipped to Trinidad. She's a nice filly and wherever she runs, she'll continue to win races," said Bassawh.

JET SETTER also made it two-in-a-row in winning the Sir Howard Stakes, the chestnut gelding by Region Of Merit out of Executive Profile (a half brother to 2009 Horse of the Year Ahwhofah) coming through early in the straight to win easily from BIG MAN BOYU.

On a day when Shane Ellis rode three winners and Subratie saddled three, both teamed-up with Kenval Wallace's American filly, RONRON, to win the open allowance sprint in impressive fashion, ahead of the reigning champion sprinter, SAINT CECELIA.