Ellis, Cardenas battle heats up

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Former champion Shane Ellis highlighted yesterday's nine-race programme at Caymanas Park with three winners to move a step closer to the leader Dick Cardenas (two winners) winners in their intriguing contest for the jockeys' title.

The second generation jockey (son of 1960s champion Winston Ellis) opened his account aboard even-money chance ITALIANO for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta in the first race for native and imported two-year-olds over 1200 metres, beating Cardenas aboard the 4-5 favourite ARGUMENT DONE in a driving finish, followed up with 3-2 favourite ONLY BEGOTTEN SUN for owner/trainer Patrick Smellie in the third again over 1200 metres and CLASSY KELLY at 5-1 for trainer Phillip Elliott in the closing Alex Imports Dig Out Handicap over 1300 metres.

llis thus pushed his season's tally to 75 - four behind Cardenas who booted home 7-2 chance YESWECAN, for trainer Owen Sharpe, to his fourth consecutive win in the fifth and the Patrick Chang-trained 3-y-o filly SWEET TRAIL, a 7-5 favourite, in the seventh over 1200 metres.

Pulling clear

Both have steadily pulled clear of reigning champion Omar Walker (70 wins), who sat out the final day of a two-day suspension, and will resume riding on Saturday, October 15 when Supreme Ventures stages race number one in their $6.55 million triple crown series for two-year-olds.

Meanwhile, WAGON WHEEL, running at odds of 5-2 with Dane Nelson aboard, came through leaving the furlong pole to win the Flossie McNeil Memorial Cup over 1200 metres by 1 1/2 lengths from 9-1 chance STRAIGHT A'S and 1-2 favourite ISNT SHE SOMETHIN, heads on for second in a field of 12 fillies and mares.

The 3-y-o chestnut filly by Region of Merit out of Don't Call Us is owned by Clinton Rhoden and trained by Patrick 'Wacky' Lynch.

There was a lengthy stewards' inquiry in which fifth past the post JJ'S EXPRESS, with apprentice Arthur Budhu aboard, was disqualified for causing grave interference to long-time leader TERRA MARIQUE and ISNT SHE SOMETHIN when running down sharply to the rails a furlong out, causing TERRA MARIQUE to bump violently into ISNT SHE SOMETHIN attempting to close on the rails.

On a day when Jamaica's lone female rider, Georgina Sergeon marked the 50th win of her career aboard 5-1 chance QUIET RULER (made all) in the second race, the card produced a stunning upset via the 99-1 outsider MARINE TUTOR in the fourth race over 1600 metres for maiden three-year-olds.

The lightly raced colt, who won easily, was ridden by Rayan Wilson for trainer Patrick Fong and owner Courtney Martin.