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Cash Talks via the Stewards' Room

Published:Saturday | November 12, 2011 | 12:00 AM
SUMMER VICTORY, one of three winners for jockey Paul 'Country' Francis, holds on by a head from MARQUE TREASURE (Robert Halledeen) to win the fourth race over 1200 metres as the 9-5 favourite, at Caymanas Park yesterday. The 3-y-o filly provided new trainer Uton Stewart with his first career win. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer



Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The stewards struck in the fifth race for the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday, disqualifying 4-1 chance SUNSHINE CITY and awarding first place to CASH TALKS with whom she had interfered in mid-stretch.

Running on strongly from below the distance, SUNSHINE CITY got up in the nick of time to overhaul long-time leader EDISON (2-1) and the fast-closing CASH TALKS (5-1) on the wide outside, holding on by a short head from the latter with another head to EDISON in a blanket finish.

However, SUNSHINE CITY, who was ridden from off the pace by Trevor Simpson for owner/trainer Phillip Elliott, was penalised for drifting out into the path of CASH TALKS under veteran jockey Vassell Najair leaving the furlong pole, and their positions reversed.

Judging from the nature of the interference, it appeared that CASH TALKS, who was held up for a stretch run, would have beaten SUNSHINE CITY had she not impeded him at a crucial stage.

CASH TALKS, a two-year-old bay gelding by Outriggger out of Money Dancer, is owned by the jockey's wife Janet Najair, bred by HAM Stables Limited and trained by Patrick Fong.

Justice served

An elated Najair, who has been riding at Caymanas Park since the mid-60s, said justice was done by the stewards in disqualifying SUNSHINE CITY.

"I would definitely have beaten her had she not taken my ground in the last furlong, and despite that I failed by only a short head to catch her," said Najair.

"Cash Talks possesses a good turn of foot, and refitting the visor for this race really brought out the best in her," added the jockey.

The most experienced juvenile in the 10-strong field of maidens, CASH TALKS won for the first time on this his seventh outing and provided Najair with a rare winner.

Meanwhile, the pre-Superstakes Day nine-prace programme was highlighted by in-form jockey Paul 'Country' Francis, who rode three winners in FREE FALL (4-1), SUMMER VICTORY (9-5) and RIGHT MARKER (3-1) in the closing race.

Title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis rode two winners in 1-5 favourite HUPOMONE and 9-2 chance POCKET MONEY to move to 89 winners, one adrift of leading jockey Dick Cardenas, who was winless.

Rookie trainer Uton Stewart saddled his first winner when the marginal favourite SUMMER VICTORY scrambled home by a head in the fourth race over 1200 metres, becoming the sixth from the batch of recently graduated trainers to post a winner.