Four-timer for Cardenas

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Following his success with 32-1 outsider TECHNOMOTO in the Cal's Jamaica Derby on the previous Saturday, title-chasing Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas highlighted yesterday's 11-race programme at Caymanas Park with four winners.

These were the 1-2 favourite SIR JAADU BABA in the first race over 1100 metres, the highly fancied debutante EL PATRON in the two-year-old maiden special over 600 metres straight, evens favourite SILENT IMAGE in the Valbert Marlowe Memorial Cup feature (non-winners of three) over 1800 metres, and PASSA PASSA, a 3-2 favourite in the closing race over 1400 metres.

Significantly, Cardenas teamed up with his guv'nor, leading trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes to win with three of those horses - SIR JAADU BABA, EL PATRON and SILENT IMAGE - to push his season's tally to 40.

This is only one adrift of leading jockey Shane Ellis, who ride one winner in 5-2 favourite, GEYSER SPRING, in the fourth race.

EL PATRON, a handsome chestnut colt by Sir Lal Bahadur out of Lady Chiriya, is co-owned by Elias Haloute and Stephan Narinesingh, who teamed up to win the Derby with TECHNOMOTO to lead the owners' standings with over $6 million in stakes.

return to jamaica

Narinesingh took it a step further when SIR JAADA BABA got up in the nick of time to win the opening race (high claiming) by a short lead. He was again on hand to see both horses win, having returned to Jamaica on Friday from his base in Trinidad.

"My horses are running well right now and the hope is that our big money spinner Technomoto wins the St Leger in another fortnight to keep us firmly on top in the owners' championship.

"Mr Haloute has won the cham-pionship in the past. It would be nice if the team brings it home this year," said Narinesingh.

SILENT IMAGE, meanwhile, showed his appreciation for a distance of ground with a runaway victory in the Valbert Marlowe Memorial Cup.

Two other notable winners on the card were champion trainer Wayne DaCosta's LITTLE WASP in the overnight allowance race and the Morris Powell-trained PRICELESS BEAUTY (6-1, Ameth Robles up), who floored the odds on topweight THE GUV with a decisive victory in the open allowance race over 1500 metres.