Raise A Ruckus romps GG Stakes

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Charging through widest of all a furlong out, the 6-5 favourite RAISE A RUCKUS scored an emphatic victory in the 52nd running of the Governor General's Stakes over 2000 metres for grade one horses at Caymanas Park yesterday.

The race, which offered a total purse of $1.3 million, was the feature event on the Hi-Pro/Ace Supercentre-sponsored 10-race programme, which attracted a large holiday crowd.

Outpaced in fourth as this year's Derby winner TECHNOMOTO (5-2) - under leading jockey Dick Cardenas - opened up a commanding lead over LITTLE WASP (11-1) approaching the half-mile, RAISE A RUICKUS was produced wide by Aaron Chatrie at the final bend to straighten three lengths fourth, then swept past the battling leaders TECHNOMOTO and topweight SIR VON (9-5) in mid-stretch to beat the latter by four lengths, in a field of eight.

Owned by the Houston Stables and trained by 14-time champion Philip Feanny, RAISE A RUCKUS was winning in grade one company for the first time. The American 4-y-o colt by Graeme Hall out of the Bold Rucks mare Likely Ruckus won his previous race, the Owen Silvera Memorial Cup (open allowance) over 1600 metres by a short head on October 5.

Chatrie said he knew the pace would be fast, so he sat and waited for the leaders to wilt.

"My horse began to close sharply at the home turn and after coming wide of rivals, I knew then that I had the race in the bag," said the in-form non-claiming apprentice.

The colt's next objective is the valuable CTL Imported Mile on Superday, Saturday, November 12.

On a day when Omar Walker kept his championship hopes alive with three winners, the even-money favourite RAGING PROSPECT provided the four-time champion with one of his winners when landing the $1.1 million Hi-Pro Stables choice Feeds Trophy, over 1300 metres for maiden two-year-olds.

Strong run

Trained and part-owned by Fitzroy Glispie, the chestnut colt by He'stherealthing-Raging Fury ran on strongly in the last furlong to catch and beat TRULY EXPLOSIVE (4-1) by three lengths.

Walker also won aboard highly fancied ODIN and GANGSTER to move to 73 wins, seven adrift the leader Cardenas (80 wins), who got his only winner (SAINT THERESA) in the Stewards' Room, following the disqualification of first-past-the-post ABRAM STAR ((7-1).

Ellis (78 wins) celebrated his 38th birthday with easy wins aboard CANDACE (made all) for trainer Owen Sharpe in the second race and EMPEROR HALL (made most) for veteran trainer Noel Ennevor in the Ace Supercentre Trophy over 1820 metres. Both started as the 4-5 favourite.