Walker stars with four-timer

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Riding like a man inspired, champion jockey Omar Walker rode four winners at Caymanas Park yesterday, to put pressure on leading jockey Dick Cardenas, who was winless on the 10-race programme.

Among his winners was 7-5 favourite SIR SOUTH, who ran on strongly to outfinish the 2-1 second favourite COLD GROUND, under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths, by half a length in the Knutsford Park Cup feature over 1200 metres, for native-bred three-year-olds (non-winners of two).

Walker, who is seeking a fifth consecutive title, also won the second race over 1600 metres aboard 6-1 shot CENTEYA in a driving finish from the closing SWIFT GLORY, as well as the fourth aboard 3-5 favourite SAN ANTONIO and the sixth atop 5-2 second favourite ROYAL TRAIN, outfinishing 6-5 favourite KACEY POPS' KID with title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis aboard.

As a result of yesterday's windfall, Walker has pushed his season's tally to 53 - five adrift of Cardenas and three behind second- place Shane Ellis, who rode one winner in 3-5 favourite JET SETTER in the seventh race over 1400 metres.

In the Knutsford Park Cup, Walker found himself outpaced in the backstretch aboard SIR SOUTH, as OVERPRICED (48-1) led from another outsider MONEY HONEY, with COLD GROUND surprisingly holding a prominent position in the 11-horse field.OVERPRICED came under pressure from COLD GROUND early in the straight, but at this stage SIR SOUTH began to close strongly on the outside. He caught up with COLD GROUND early in the last furlong and soon gained the ascendancy for a decisive win, as Cardenas' mount THE PRIMEMERLINIAN (10-1) placed third.

A bay colt by Storm Craft out of Lady Lydia, SIR SOUTH is owned, trained and bred by Gordon Lewis.

$12m pick-9 caught

The trainer was elated with the win and attributed this to the presence of the blinkers."He had been running consistently well in the cheek pieces, but I worked him in the open cut blinkers since his last race and really liked his enthusiasm.

"I was pretty confident coming into the race despite the presence of Cold Ground, who had beaten him on the previous occasions they met over longer distance, but at six furlongs I knew we would reverse the placings," said Lewis.

Meanwhile, the mushrooming Pick-9 failed to survive a ninth consecutive race day, as the $12.5 million jackpot was shared by two punters - each receiving $6.26 million. Pick-9 sales went through the roof yesterday, surpassing $9 million, but it will start anew on Saturday with the guaranteed minimum of $1 million.

Andre Martin rode two winners on the card in WILLISTON (14-1) and SECRET NATIVE (7-2), both for veteran trainer Noel Ennevor.