Easy win for Raise A Ruckus

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

The American colt, RAISE A RUCKUS, rebounded at Caymanas Park yesterday, winning the 3-y-o old and up overnight allowance race over 1400 metres in decisive fashion with Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas riding for 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny.

Installed a howling 1-5 favourite after chasing home the progressive American colt MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE in the recent Ash Wednesday Trophy, RAISE A RUCKUS bided his time just off the early pace as 60-1 outsider THE GUARDIAN led at a fast clip from MACHISMO (8-1) and UNDAUNTED (7-1).

Coming three wide with his challenge entering the straight, RAISE A RUCKUS quickly disposed of the THE GUARDIAN and moved away to win by 2¹/⁴ lengths from the consistent MACHISMO, who was behind him in third when they last met in the Ash Wednesday Trophy.

Improving

Cardenas, whose English is improving, said his aim was to keep RAISE A RUCKUS out of trouble and pick a good position from early.

"I settle him down nicely from half mile and although coming wide with challenge into the straight, I knew that I had race won from that point and only had to ride him with hands and heels for easy win," explained the in-form rider.

RAISE A RUCKUS, who ended last season with a bang by winning his last three races under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths, has now won four of his last five races.

Later in the afternoon (closing race), the 17-1 outsider CAJUN FIDDLER floored the odds on the howling 4-5 favourite STEEL DE CAT to win the Clifford Stewart Memorial Cup (claiming $250,000 - $210,000) feature over 1200 metres.

STEEL DE CAT, toting topweight of 57.0kg in a field of 15, dissipated his chances by missing the break from the number 16 post position, and although coming through to lead on entering the straight, was brushed aside by the strong-running CAJUN FIDDLER early in the last furlong, fading quickly into fifth place.

Owned by Magdalia and trained by ex-jockey Tensang Chung, the six-year-old mare by Law Of The Sea out of Speed Freak was notching her first win in almost a year. She was ridden by topline jockey Paul 'Country' Francis.

Cardenas emerged the day's most successful rider with two winners in RAISE A RUCKUS and 6-5 chance HACKLETON, who made all for trainer Colin Ferguson in the eighth race over 1100 metres for $180,000 claimers.

He thus pushed his season's tally to 18 - two adrift of the leader Shane Ellis, who failed to ride a winner on the card.

Prominent owners, the Houston Stables also had two winners in RAISE A RUCKUS and 2-5 favourite HARLAN'S DANCER in the opener, but for different trainers.