Frustration as favourites fall in the rain

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Punters experienced a wet and frustrating time at rainy Caymanas Park yesterday, the nine-race programme producing only one winning favourite in veteran campaigner NASATOL.

In scoring a runaway victory in the fourth race over the straight, the remarkable 10-year-old grey gelding posted his 32nd career win to be two adrift of equalling MASTER BLASTER's all-time record of 34.

Installed a 3-5 favourite, NASATOL won by all of 10 lengths from PASSA PASSA in a field of eight from the $250,000-$210,000 claiming spread. The son of Pat N Jack was ridden by champion jockey Omar Walker for trainer Dennis Lee and his wife Faye.

The rest of the programme spelt grief for punters to the extent that the Pick-9 not only had a carryover, but the $12,623.00 consolation prize went to punters spotting six of nine winners.

If that wasn't enough, the second Super-6 had no takers and the carryover to Saturday's 'Hall of Fame' meet stands at $1.7 million.

flopped badly

Meanwhile, GENERAL CURLIN, who won easily over 1700 metres on a $250,000 claiming tag on Saturday, flopped badly in the mud as the 2-1 second favourite in the Dr David 'Jack' Radix Memorial Cup over 1820 metres for $180,000 claimers.

The race was won by 7-1 chance NAHIMA, who closed rapidly leaving the furlong pole to win by 4¹/⁴ lengths from PROGRESSIVE (3-1) and LATENT POWER (17-1), leaving in her wake the 8-5 favourite KOKOPELLI CAT and GENERAL CURLIN (eighth) in a field of nine.

An 8-y-o mare by Royal Minister out of Ad Ma'am, NAHIMA was ridden by Devon A. Thomas for trainer Gary Griffiths and owner Andrew Azar.

Walker rode two winners in NASATOL and CENTEYA (5-2) on a day when horses such as SAN ANTONIO (10-1), NAHIMA and DOCTOR DEVIOUS (both at 7-1), along with EMERGENCE, PALACE GOLD and DECADENCE, all at 5-1, provided the upsets.

The Richard Azan-owned and trained four-year-old colt, SAN ANTONIO, ridden by apprentice Jodeien Anderson, showed how much he had improved, with a decisive victory in the second race (non-winners of three) over 1100 metres.

Outpaced a bit as APPELLANT made most ahead of 6-5 favourite J.R'S DREAM, SAN ANTONIO stormed through midway the last furlong to beat the new leader, J.R's DREAM, by 1¹/⁴ lengths.