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Sir Von powers home in feature

Published:Sunday | June 5, 2011 | 12:00 AM
The 16-1 outsider OCHUN (outside) is brought with a well-timed run by apprentice Richard Mairs to beat highly fancied GEYSER SPRING (Wesley Henry) by a neck in yesterday's eighth race over the straight-five course at muddy Caymanas Park. The winner is trained by Norman Palmer. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Closing from well off the pace in muddy conditions, SIR VON ran though midway the last furlong to win the 16th running of the Jamaica Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame Stakes Trophy open allowance feature over over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Installed a 6-5 favourite with non-claiming apprentice Aaron Chatrie riding for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and owner Von White, the American four-year-old colt powered home 11/4 lengths ahead of stable-companions NEW KINGSTON (7-1) and LIFEISJUSFORLIVING (2-1) heads on for the minor placings.

This enabled DaCosta to sweep the first three places in the six-horse field and, more important, regain the lead from classic-winning trainer Gary Subratie in their private duel for the trainers' championship.

Subratie could well regain the lead in a big way should his 2000 Guineas winner BIG MAN BOYU win the 91st running of the Cal's-sponsored Jamaica Derby next Saturday. 'BIG MAN' will be ridden by Trinidad's leading jockey Noel Abrego, who arrived in the island yesterday.

Not the best away, SIR VON looked hopelessly outpaced in fifth passing the half mile as the Subratie-trained DANCE SO SWEET (2-1) led at a fast clip under leading jockey Shane Ellis, ahead of the chasing LIFEISJUSFORLIVING with female apprentice Georgina Sergeon aboard.

Although turning for home a clear leader, DANCE SO SWEET came under pressure from LIFEISJUSFOLIVING early in the last furlong. Then, all of a sudden, Chatrie produced SIR VON with a terrific burst of speed on the rails to hit the front midway the last furlong for a decisive win from NEW KINGSTON, who got up in the nick of time to pip 'LIFE' by a short head for third.

SIR VON has now won five races from eight career starts for total stakes of $2.3 million.

Convincing victory

Earlier in the afternoon, the Subratie-trained American 4-y-o colt BURST OF ENERGY also justified favouritism with a convincing victory in the day's secondary feature (overnight allowance) for the Reynold 'Ren' Gonsalves Memorial Cup over 2000 metres.

Always prominent, BURST OF ENERGY went by long-time leader EXCELLENCE 600 metres out and after turning for home a clear leader, kept on well to win by 13/4 in a field of nine. Owned by Arthur Foreman, BURST OF ENERGY was ridden by Shane Ellis, who flew into the island yesterday morning (with Abrego) after a three-day stint in Trinidad where he rode two winners at Santa Rosa.

The card produced five winning favourites, including the Anthony Nunes-trained MAAS LAURIE, who was named after ex-trainer and businessman Laurie Hussey, who died last Monday morning at age 76. MASS LAURIE is owned by his widow Ruth, and was the first of three winners for jockey Wesley Henry on the card.