Vintage Griffiths wins Trainers' feature

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Odds-on favourite NYABINGHI, under a copybook ride by leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths, lengthened her strides over the final 200 metres to win the United Racehorse Trainers' Association Trophy over 1820 metres by three lengths at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Trained by Peter McMaster for his wife Elaine (Miss Suckie), the American three-year-old filly raced prominently in third as MADURA GOLD (4-1) led from BREDDA PAPA (21-1) in a field of seven native and imported three-year-olds and up.

NYABINGHI was sent in chase of MADURA GOLD leaving the half mile and although pointing in the middle entering the straight, had to be shaken up from early in the straight to thwart a feeble challenge from LADY MACBETH (9-2) with champion jockey Omar Walker aboard.

second win

Under a right-hand stick from Griffiths, NYABINGHI moved away from LADY MACBETH in the last furlong, notching her second win over the distance since beating the subsequent Superstakes third COLD GROUND on October 1.

She failed by a neck to beat COLD GROUND in their rematch over the distance in the Royal Dad Trophy on October 22. But McMaster went for a more experienced rider in Hall of Famer 'Fanna' Griffiths, who has been pretty active in the saddle in recent weeks.

The five-time champion has now ridden a winner on each of the past five racedays - beginning with OVATION on November 2, DISTANT SUNSET, QUEEN ADIRA and D'NUGGET last weekend.

McMaster, who bought NYABINGHI for an undisclosed sum in the Ocala 2-y-o sale in Florida, said she will now be prepared for the grade-one Harry Jackson Memorial Cup over 2400 metres on Boxing Day.

"We have discovered that she enjoys two-turn races rather than middle distances and on a line through Cold Ground, there's no telling how far she can go," said the trainer.

Cardenas widens lead

Meanwhile, leading jockey Dick Cardenas rode two winners in 6-5 favourite THE VALIDICTORIAN for trainer Anthony Nunes and 6-1 chance ITAINTEASYBEINGME for owner/trainer Dale Murphy to widen his lead over arch-rival Shane Ellis in the jockeys' championship.

Ellis failed to ride a winner on the United Trainers' Association Day programme and was left stranded on 90 wins, while Cardenas improved his tally to 93.

On a day when each winning trainer received five bags of Hi-Pro Feeds, a Burger King voucher and a bottle of champagne, only three favourites obliged in THE VALIDICTORIAN, TOBAGO at 3-4 and NYABINGHI at 1-2. The notable upsets were provided by LA VIDA LOCA at 15-1 and SIR DANE at 9-1 in the ninth race to give veteran trainer Noel Freeman his 100th career win.