Big day for Subratie

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Trainer Gary Subratie had a fantastic day at Caymanas Park yesterday, saddling four winners on the well supported 11-trace programme, including NIPHAL and UNCLE KEN in the Guineas trials over 1400 metres.

The second generation trainer thus enjoyed his best day on the job since obtaining a trainer's licence in Miami in 1999.

In addition to NIPHAL and UNCLE KEN, who scored mild upsets in the $1.3 million Thornbird Stakes for native bred three-year-old fillies and Prince Consort Stakes for colts and geldings respectively, Subratie posted his classy American filly RONRON to an impressive fast-time victory in the Eros Trophy (grade one) over 1400 metres, as well as 6-5 favourite ROMEZ in the second race over the straight for high claimers.

NIPHAL, ridden by in-form claiming apprentice Richard Mairs who was also aboard ROMEZ, chased long-time leader SENSE OF TRADITION (7-1) in the Thornbird Stakes until going by outside on entering the straight. She moved away approaching the distance to win by three lengths from the even-money favourite SWEET BROWNING, who was surprisingly tailed off for the first half of the race but made rapid headway for second, 4¹/² clear of 5-2 chance CARIDAD in a field of 11.

A chestnut filly by Legal Process out of the Restless Thief mare Lady Rampage, NIPHAL, who raced on Lasix for the first time, is owned by Farasphal and bred by many-time champion breeder, Henry Jaghai. It was the filly's second win from six career starts.

Emphatic win

In the Prince Consort Stakes, the 8-1 chance UNCLE KEN stormed through under leading jockey Shane Ellis a furlong out for an emphatic win under topweight of 57.0kg.

The race was hotly contested in the backstretch, with the well-backed TRADITIONAL PRINCE (7-2), TECHNOMOTO (5-1) and the 4-5 favourite JET SETTER disputing the lead for a long way ahead of JUSTIN ON FIRE (6-1), with UNCLE KEN kept just off the early pace. But TRADITIONAL PRINCE was to prove no match for UNCLE KEN a furlong out, the bay gelding by Alajwad out of Kathythetraina beating him by 3¹/² lengths in a field of 12.

UNCLE KEN, who has now won three races from seven starts including the $3.5 million Supreme Ventures Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy over the distance last November, is owned by Kenval Wallace and bred by Trevor James.

He is now the ante-post favourite for the April 2 2000 Guineas.

Wallace had the supreme satisfaction of seeing his impressive filly RONRON (Ellis up) humbling the reigning 'Horse of the Year' MARK MY WORD in the Eros Trophy contested by five starters.

The 4-y-o filly chased the early leader CLASSY PROSPECT before disposing of her from the 600-metre marker to win by 2¹/² lengths from THE GUV, with the 7-5 second favourite MARK MY WORD (prominent) fading into fourth place on this his seasonal debut.