Hombre romps Caymanas feature

The 2009 Superstakes winner HOMBRE turned the Jockey Club Stakes over 1400 metres into a procession at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Moving like a well-oiled machine on the outside leaving the half mile, HOMBRE, installed an 8-5 favourite with 2.0kg claiming apprentice Georgina Sergeon aboard, won the overnight allowance feature by six lengths from 4-1 chance THE GUMMER in a 13-horse field.

It was 5-1 chance THE GUARDIAN who made the early running from stable-companion TRIAL LAWYER (26-1) with HOMBRE not far adrift in fourth position approaching the half-mile.

shot into the lead

Ridden aggressively from the half-mile, HOMBRE shot into the lead approaching the 600-metre pole. He turned for home with a commanding lead, and despite Sergeon losing her whip (fell) early in the straight, the 6-year-old bay gelding by Pat N Jac out of Muchacha Favorita responded to some improvised hitting with the top of the reins to win unchallenged.

Trained by Noel Ennevor for owner/breeder Wessel Burnett, HOMBRE covered the distance in the smart time of 1:24.4 behind splits of 23.4, 46.2 and 1:11.1.

Ennevor, who had earlier posted 1-2 favourite CRUISER to win the seventh race over 1820 metres, said HOMBRE's recent running over 2000 metres as the favourite was below par and he had to go back to the drawing board.

major objective

"We discovered that he had bled and Lasix made the difference on this occasion. Owing to Sergeon's apprentice claim, this was the lightest he has been for years (53.0kg) and now that he's back in good nick, the Superstakes remains our major objective," the trainer disclosed.

Sergeon said she was firmly in control when pulling clear of rivals leaving the 600-metre pole, and attributed the loss of her whip to the strong headwind she encountered on entering the straight.

"The wind just blew it out of my hand," she said.

Meanwhile, title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis (72 wins) rode three winners, while leading jockey Dick Cardenas (76 wins) rode two, as did Omar Walker (70), who starts a two-day suspension on Wednesday.

Second-generation trainer Steven Todd, son of Richie Todd, posted his first winner when SURREAL (7-2) won the closing race in a tight photo finish.