Sir Von humbles Mark My Word

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

The lightly weighted American colt SIR VON humbled 2010 Triple Crown winner and 'Horse of the Year' MARK MY WORD to win the 49th running of the Prime Minister's Stakes grade one feature over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Installed a 6-5 second favourite with Paul 'Country' Francis riding for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta and owner Von White, SIR VON, in receipt of 7.0kg from 1-4 favourite, went wire to wire to beat him by 21/2 lengths in a field of six.

SIR VON, venturing up to grade one company after his recent runaway victory over 1400 metres in open allowance, led passing the stands for the first time, ahead of the Oaks winner CARIDAD (5-1), closely followed by MARK MY WORD under champion jockey Omar Walker.

Short lead

MARK MY WORD soon went in chase of SIR VON, who held a short lead passing the half mile and again at the final bend. But SIR VON had a lot in reserve when MARK MY WORD ranged alongside leaving the quarter pole, responding to the left-hand stick approaching the distance to win going away, as MARK MY WORD just could not concede the weight, yet finished nine lengths clear of CARIDAD in third.

DaCosta said Francis followed his instructions to the letter: "I told him to lead from early and keep Sir Von on the rails at all cost. I knew the weight would work to our advantage and when Mark My Word loomed on the outside from the half mile, I was not worried.

"I knew once they hit the straight and he had the rail run, Francis only had to keep him up to the work with the left-hand stick and, in the end, we won comfortably," said DaCosta, who saddled a second winner on the Independence Day 10-race programme in 40-1 outsider CASHMERE GOLD, this over the straight course.

Ridden by Georgina Sergeon, the three-year-old chestnut filly stormed through on the far side in the last furlong to win by 31/2 lengths from 2-1 chance LIGHTNING IMAGE (Cardenas up), then had to survive a stewards' inquiry.

Stunning upset

The other stunning upset came in the closing Independence Stakes Trophy (claiming $180,000) when the 65-1 outsider ONELITTLEWISH ran through a furlong out to win by two lengths from the Cardenas-ridden RULE BY SECRECY (5-1) in a field of 16.

Ridden by apprentice Jodeien Anderson for trainer Dennis Thwaites and owner Nigel Dunn, ONELITTLEWISH was the final nail in the mushrooming Pick-9 which again proved elusive, resulting in a whopping $6.8 million carry-over to Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Walker rode two winners on the card in SULAMANI and MY GIRL NALA to move 48 - six adrift of Cardenas, who took over sole leadership from the winless Shane Ellis after landing the fifth aboard 7-2 chance REGAL SENSATION for his guv'nor Anthony 'Baba' Nunes.

DaCosta and Gary Subratie saddled two winners each.