Erasmo romps Lotto Classic

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Storming through approaching the distance, ERASMO romped home by three lengths from the fast-finishing COLD GROUND to win the 71st running of the Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday to send his stocks soaring for the June 11 Jamaica Derby.

Offering odds of 7-2 in a field of 14 native bred three-year-olds, ERASMO, with champion jockey Omar Walker riding for big-race trainer Richard Azan and reigning champion owners Elite Bloodstock Limited, underlined classic form, having finished third to the Gary Subratie-trained BIG MAN BOYU in the 2000 Guineas when last raced on April 2.

Finishing last

The betting made the lightly raced but highly thought of HERMOSA AMIGO an odds-on favourite at 4-5, but after racing prominently in fourth for a long way backed out from the half mile to finish a floundering last after it appeared something went wrong during the race

It was the lightly weighted filly LUSCIOUS (23-1) with Georgina Sergeon aboard who led for most of the way. She was tracked by another filly, SWEET TRAIL (12-1), TECHNOMOTO (5-1), HERMOSA AMIGO and MAAS LAURIE (26-1), who moved up to join her at the final bend.

Both turned for home on almost level terms, but by then ERASMO had made rapid headway from off the pace, then swept past the leaders approaching the distance for an emphatic win.

COLD GROUND, who along with the winner was outpaced from early, stayed on strongly for second with Paul Francis aboard, a neck ahead of 15-1 chance JET SETTER whose stable-companion LUSCIOUS faded into fourth place.

Pretty confident

A lightly raced chestnut colt by Sir Cherokee out of You Can't Hide, ERASMO was bred by HAM Stables Limited. This was his third win from six career starts for total stakes of $3.9 million. Walker said he was pretty confident of winning after working ERASMO last weekend.

"He was working well for the race and, more importantly, I knew he would stay the distance. He won quite easily and we are looking forward to the Derby now," said the four-time champion.

On a day when title sponsors Supreme Ventures Limited feted over 900 of their agents under the infield tent to mark the company's 10th anniversary, champion trainer Wayne DaCosta saddled three winners, while the Subratie-trained American filly, RONRON (Shane Ellis up), confirmed her status as the best horse in training with a remarkable victory under 60.5kg in the Lotto Sprint.