Caridad snatches Bigga Ja Oaks

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Storming through in the last furlong, highly fancied CARIDAD got up in the nick of time to deny 5-1 chance RIGHT MARKER by a neck in the 72nd running of the Bigga Jamaica Oaks over 2000 metres, for native bred three-year-old fillies, at Caymanas Park yesterday.

At stake in this the season's third classic was the lion's share of the $3.3 million purse and the Hilma Veira Trophy.

Ridden by US-based Jamaica jockey Allen 'Bungo John' Maragh, CARIDAD, running as the 2-1 second favourite, found herself outpaced for most of the way as the 99-1 outsider LADY JAGRATI led from the 5-2 third favourite SWEET TRAIL under former champion jockey Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry, closely followed by the recent 1000 Guineas winner and 6-5 favourite NIPHAL, with another former champion, Shane Ellis, astride.

These raced clear of RIGHT MARKER and LUSCIOUS, but as they flashed past the half mile, SWEET TRAIL and NIPHAL on the inside went by LADY JAGRATI as a team.

With SWEET TRAIL showing marginally ahead on the outside passing the 600-metre pole, RIGHT MARKER started what looked like a winning run on the outside approaching the final bend to grab the lead from SWEET TRAIL entering the straight. But although racing four lengths clear a furlong out and seemingly having the race at her mercy, the Noel Ennevor-trained RIGHT MARKER, with Paul 'Country' Francis aboard, failed to repel a terrific last-furlong run from CARIDAD, who got up in the final stride for a thrilling victory.

45th classic win

CARIDAD, who was third (closing) in the April 2 1000 Guineas, is owned and bred by Joseph 'Fudgie' Duany of Miracle Man fame and trained by 14-time champion Philip Feanny, who was posting a record 45th classic win, including his eighth Oaks success. CARIDAD is a chestnut filly by Skipping out of the Alisios mare Mylegacy, and this was her second win from seven career starts for stakes of $2.8 million.

Feanny, in fact, enjoyed his best day at Caymanas for some time, saddling three winners on the 11-race programme including the highly fancied debutante QUEEN ADIRA (evens favourite) and 3-1 chance MY HEARTBEAT, with Maragh aboard in the respective sections of the Ricochet Stakes over 1000 metres round for maiden three-year-olds.

"I tried to keep her in a good position but she just would not respond until very late in the race", said Maragh.

"She seemingly had it all to do entering the straight, but I tried everything and really doubled up on her leaving the furlong pole, and she found a different gear to snatch it on the wire", he added.

The Subratie-trained DANCE SO SWEET (7-1) with Panamanian jockey Ameth Robles riding for popular owner Kenval Wallace, outgunned the howling 1-9 favourite LIFEISJUSFORLIVING in a speed duel to win the Sam Mahfood Memorial Trophy over 1100 metres in the smart time of 1:05.1.