Mismyrtleboy rules

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

The classy American 3-y-o colt MISMYRTLEBOY-RICHIE turned in a super-lative performance at Caymanas Park yesterday, humbling the previously unbeaten CASSANOVA BOY and his stable-companion SIR VON to win the 3-y-o and up open allowance feature over 1300 by all of six lengths.

Installed a 4-5 favourite with champion jockey Omar Walker again riding for trainer Tony Kirlew, MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE duly chalked up his eighth consecutive win and the sky's the limit for this 3-y-o bay colt by Mingun out of Two Punch Christy.

This being the first big clash of the season among three American horses, excitement reached fever pitch when prolonged cheers greeted the horses and riders as they paraded in front of the stands.

Intriguing factor

What made the situation more intriguing was the fact that Omar Walker, who recently split with champion trainer Wayne DaCosta as stable jockey, had piloted the talented 5-y-o gelding CASSANOVA BOY to victory on the last five occasions he won, while he had guided the American 4-y-o colt SIR VON to to four wins from five career starts, both for DaCosta.

When the gates opened, SIR VON, highly fancied at 9-5 with Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry aboard, missed the break as CASSANOVA BOY and MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE, coming from the number one post position, broke on top in the six-horse field.

'MISMYRTLEBOY' quickly grabbed an early lead, but after a dozen strides gave way to the hard-ridden SIR VON on the inside, with CASSANOVA BOY settled off the pace in third by Dane Nelson as they sorted themselves out.

MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE turned for home a close second on the outside, quickly disposed of SIR VON and moved away to win by six lengths in the smart time of 1:17.4 behind splits of 23.2, 45.4 for the half mile and 1:10.4 for the first six furlongs.

"This is an exceptional race horse," said Kirlew, who conditions the emerging 'brand name' horse for owner Jigzy Blade.

"We fear no horse ... . He is ready for any horse, anytime, anywhere and my opponents can put up their money and come," added the trainer in an obvious reference to the Gary Subratie-trained American filly RONRON, the top-rated horse in the country at present. A clash between both seems inevitable in the weeks ahead, but don't forget CASSANOVA BOY, who lost for the first time on this his 10th start.

Meanwhile, trainer Dwight Chen highlighted the 11-race programme with three winners in RAISING ASHLEY (3-1), BOLDLY FORMAL (13-1), who made all impressively, and the 9-5 favourite KING'S LAW in the opening race over 1300 metres for the Birnamwood Trophy. Ridden by Georgina Sergeon for in-form owner Sweety Man, KING'S LAW won by a nose from long-time leader ONLY BEGOTTEN SUN (9-5) after a stirring last-furlong duel.