Major Mayer obliges in feature

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The 2007 Superstakes winner MAJOR MAYER easily accounted for rivals in the annual renewal of the Alty McKenzie Memorial Cup over a mile at Caymanas Park yesterday to push his career earnings to a whopping $8.6 million.

Installed a 6-5 favourite in a field of nine, MAJOR MAYER, ridden by 2.0kg claiming apprentice Robert Halledeen, won by four lengths from 2-1 chance GHOST RAPPER, who in turn had 2¹/² lengths to spare over DOCTOR DEVIOUS (2-1) in the day's co-feature for $350,000-$300,000 claimers.

Held up for the first half of the race as OUT FOR JUSTICE and GHOST RAPPER alternated in the lead, MAJOR MAYER closed as a team with DOCTOR DEVIOUS approaching the home turn to mount his challenge between horses. He soon moved away to win by four lengths from GHOST RAPPER, who rallied for second ahead of DOCTOR DEVIOUS.

Owned by Gilbert Khwalsingh and trained by Cashbert Khwalsingh, the 8-y-o chestnut gelding by Sir Lal Bahadur out of Tee Vee Gee, who was bred by Henry Jaghai, ticked off his 14th career win from 61 starts.

Later in the afternoon, another 6-5 chance - LASHING FORCE, with title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis aboard - showed good speed to win the Royal Lancaster Trophy race over the round-five course by three lengths from PREMIUM RETURNS (7-1) in a field of eight maiden two-year-olds.

A bay colt by Pat N Jac out of Seek, LASHING FORCE is owned by Alphonso Sterling, bred by Orange Valley Estates Limited and trained by Raymond Townsend, who said he was confident of victory.

Better prepared

"He was beaten by some very good imported horses a fortnight ago, and now better prepared for this race and the visor removed, I knew he would prove too good now up against native breds," said Townsend, who added that LASHING FORCE might run again on Superstakes Day, November 12.

Meanwhile, leading jockey Dick Cardenas tightened the screws on arch-rival Shane Ellis with three winners on the nine-race programme, compared to that lone win by Ellis.

The quiet Panamanian scored an all-the-way win aboard 2-1 chance DROP THEM in the fourth before rounding off the triple with the last double - SARAGOSSA at 9-5 for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes and the Lynch-trained PERFECT FLYER at odds of 7-2 in the nightpan to move to 89 wins - three clear of Ellis.

Recent graduate Lincoln Lungs saddled his first winner in 4-1 chance SIR VALIANT in the seventh race for $180,000 claimers over the straight.