Wayne DaCosta saddles 1,600th career winner

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta saddled his 1,600th winner at Caymanas Park yesterday when the American-bred filly FLUFFY made all convincingly in the 3-y-o and up overnight allowance race over 1500 metres.

Installed a 3-5 favourite with former champion Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry aboard, FLUFFY became flustered in the gates just prior to the start, but she was soon settled by Henry and although not the sharpest away, was ridden to lead on the inside in less than a dozen strides.

With CLASSIC BEAU (55-1) and MACHISMO (4-1) taking turns at chasing her, FLUFFY turned for home some three lengths clear and only had to be pushed out to win by 1 1/2 lengths from the late-running ESQUIRE (7-2), ahead of the Anthony 'Baba' Nunes-trained MACHISMO, ridden by new stable jockey Dick Cardenas.

Henry, who recently rode his 600th winner (JJ Minister), said FLUFFY was a bit fussy in the gates and his only concern was whether she would miss the break.

Second winner

"The trainer told me to break her and put her in the lead ... I soon had her settled in front and she was not for catching," said Henry, who had a second winner on the card in 2-5 favourite RED FLAG in the 3-y-o maiden special over 1300 metres.

DaCosta, meanwhile, said he was happy to have attained another milestone in his long and illustrious career, the 10-time champion taking time out to reflect on some of the best horses he has trained. These include the 1996 Triple Crown winner and 'Horse of the Year' WAR ZONE, his outstanding filly THORNBIRD, winner of the Derby and "Horse of the Year' award in 1984 and the 1999 Derby winner GOOD PROSPECT.

On a day when the stewards' disqualified two winners in successive races for causing interference - TIME OF STORM at 9-2 in the Joshua Morrison Memorial Cup feature over 1500 metres and RUNE at 10-1 in the eighth race, the impressive American colt CLEVER CHEROKEE completed the hat-trick with a fast-time win over 1200 metres. The lightly raced 3-y-o colt was ridden as usual by five-time champion Winston Griffiths for leading all-time trainer Philip Feanny (1,817 wins).

Caymanas Park will stage a Kite Festival and Family Fun Day today starting at 10 a.m.