Saint Cecelia romps Reggae Trophy

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

The reigning champion sprinter, SAINT CECELIA, turned in a smashing performance at Caymanas Park yesterday to win the $1.1-million Reggae Trophy grade-one feature over the straight five course, equalling the stakes record time of 56.2.

Ridden by the competent 4.0kg claiming apprentice Osive Donegal for trainer Spencer Chung, SAINT CECELIA, installed an even-money favourite despite topweight of 60.5kg, won by 21/2 lengths from the vastly improved American filly DANCE SO SWEET (8-5) with another 11/2 lengths to spare over another highly fancied importee, SIR VON (2-1) in a field of six.

With the race run in blistering splits of 21.1 and 44.0 for the first half mile, SAINT CECELIA's final time not only equalled the stakes record held by MUSICAL MAESTRO since September 2007, but was only one-fifth of a second outside the track record held jointly by MUSICAL MAESTRO and MINISTEROFJUSTICE in 2005 and 2008, respectively.

Fast splits

Gary Subratie's DANCE SO SWEET made the fast splits in mid-track, followed by BRASH & SASSY and SAINT CECELIA racing on the far rails.

But SAINT CECELIA soon found her best strides. She caught up with the drifting DANCE SO SWEET leaving the quarter pole, sprinting clear from below the distance to record her second win from five starts this season and her 10th from only 21 starts to top the $10-million mark in career earnings.

Chung said he was forced to run the 2009 Guineas and Oaks winner over the straight course for the first time, this being the only straight five race for grade-one horses.

"Although unproven over the course, I knew she would adapt to it given her speed and class," said Chung. "I don't want to race her too often ... Her long-term objective remains the Caribbean Sprint (November) which she won last year in impressive fashion."

Meanwhile, champion jockey Omar Walker rode his second triple on consecutive Saturdays to move within one of long-time leader Shane Ellis in the three-way tussle (with the suspended Dick Cardenas as well) for the jockeys' championship.

Walker won aboard highly fancied DEFENDIT, 6-5 favourite PRIVATE CARD and evens favourite NASATOL, who chalked up his 34th career win in the third race ($450,000 claiming) to equal the all-time record for most wins held by MASTER BLASTER since 2002.

Walker moves past Cardenas to go second with 45 winners, while Ellis rode two winners in NEW KINGSTON and IT IS WRITTEN to lead with 46.