'Honey' defies top weight for sweet win

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Making virtually all in mid-track, DOUBLE THE HONEY defied top weight of 57.0kg to win the 3-y-o and up open allowance feature over the straight in a driving finish from the course specialist PALACE GOLD at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Installed a 3-2 favourite under title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis, the American 4-y-o colt from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta galloped on to the main track a length clear of the chasing trio of BRASH & SASSY (3-1), PALACE GOLD (9-2) and SARAGOSSA (2-1) in a field of nine.

PALACE GOLD loomed large leaving the furlong pole, but Ellis dug deep and DOUBLE THE HONEY responded well to score a fighting victory.

The son of Double Honor-Ahoneyofabunny covered the distance in the smart time of 57.4 on a damp surface and completed a double for Ellis on the nine-race programme.

The 2000 champion jockey had earlier booted home 9-2 chance TIME OF STORM for trainer Patrick Smellie in the seventh race over 1100 metres, for four-year-olds and up.

Four-length win

The grey gelding, who has been a source of disappointment in recent months, raced in touch as TOP OF THE MORN led from EVER BLESSED and highly fancied SHE'S SO SHY in a field of 12. He straightened within striking distance of the leaders and stormed through a furlong out to win by four lengths.

Ellis shared the spotlight with fellow title contenders Dick Cardenas and Omar Walker, who also rode two winners.

Cardenas, the leading jockey following his fabulous six-timer on Saturday, won the fifth race over 1100 metres for maiden three-year-olds aboard even-money favourite SAINT THERESA for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, and completed a quick double for the same trainer with the stretch-running THE VALIDICTORIAN, a 6-5 favourite.

Outpaced by the leaders LESTERAE and PRINCE OF ARABIA in the backstretch, THE VALIDICTORIAN produced a strong run on the outside leaving the furlong pole to outfinish highly fancied OVATION by three-quarter length in a driving finish.

Cardenas leads the standings with 74 wins - five clear of Ellis and six ahead of Walker.

Meanwhile, after years of trying, 25-year-old apprentice Akeem Grant notched his first win aboard 7-5 favourite AOKI LEI for trainer Paul 'Sleeper' Charlton in the second race over 1400 metres. He beat Walker's mount LONG PROCESS (7-2) in a driving finish over 1400 metres.