BY RUDDY ALLEN OBSERVER STAFF REPORTER
Friday, January 02, 2015
There were many outstanding achievements on the racetrack during 2014, indeed it can be said that these moments have left indelible imprints on the Sport of Kings in Jamaica.
Agreement on these landmarks will always be the subject of robust discussion among racing fans. These discussions usually add the elements of disagreement and surprise to a sporting endeavour which is always filled with excitement and sometimes controversy.
Putting together the 10 most outstanding achievements, The Complete Racing Guide’s team took into consideration the impact of the moment, not only on the racetrack or among fans of the sport, but also on the wider Jamaican audience. The team fully understands that there will never be consensus on our selections, but the hope is for discussions based on what we believe to be objective reasoning on our part.
1. TYPEWRITER MAKES SECOND IMPRINT ON SUPERSTAKES
For sheer impact, the win by Typewriter in the Post to Post Superstakes was an absolute stunner and is chosen as the top moment for 2014. After falling victim to the much-improved Commanding Chief and Perfect Neighbour many times earlier in the season, the now six-year-old bay gelding Typewriter (Western Classic – Docs’ Paladin by Boundary) turned up when it mattered most by producing what can only be described as a performance for the ages to crush rivals by nine-and-a-half lengths in the 10-furlong race. Racing fans at the track and those who watched across the country on television or listened on the radio were simply stunned as Typewriter lifted himself and the sport to a higher and more profound level. Shane Ellis was the man pulling the strings from the saddle hero for trainer Spencer Chung who must be commended for his work as the conditioner.
2. TRAINER ROBERT PEARSON’S ONE, TWO, THREE IN WASSY BIKES GOLD CUP
The 2014 Gold Cup, sponsored by Wassy Bikes is the top handicap race during the local racing season. Last year’s renewal turned out to be a victory procession for horses trained by Robert Pearson, as he filled the first, second, and third positions – a rare feat in such a prestigious event. Local bred Potcheen (Traditional – Bubble Gum Hottie) led the Pearson charge over the imported stock of stablemates Uppa Tune (second) and Pete’s Wild One (third). Certainly a golden moment in the training career of Pearson and is one that will always be remembered.
3. THE PERFORMANCES BY POTCHEEN
Potcheen victories in the Caribbean Sprint Championship and the Wassy Bike Gold Cup cemented his position as a horse of quality and a horse of class. His true worth was displayed in the Gold Cup win on December 6. It was coronation time for a horse who had promised much from his early days in racing. His connections waited on him and are currently reaping the rewards of patience and care. The five-year-old bay gelding is now at the pinnacle of his career and without doubt has to be ranked in the top echelons of racers which include Typewriter, Commanding Chief, and Perfect Neighbour. Potcheen, scored five wins for the year but based mainly on the two aforementioned victories is now in serious contention for horse of the year honours.
4. ROBERT PEARSON/ OMAR WALKER’S DOMINATION OF SUPER DAY
Regarded as the foremost racing day on the local calendar, the Super Day of races turned out to be a showcase of the conditioning talent of Robert Pearson. On a day when the best horses in training participate, Pearson dominated the two major races on offer. Potcheen took the Sprint Championship and then Pete’swildone won the Caymanas Invitational mile. To add to those accomplishments, Pearson had earlier won the sixth race on the card with Boy Wonder to make it a hat-trick of wins. Jockey Omar Walker was aboard all three winners.
5. PERFECT NEIGHBOUR HARRY JACKSON WIN
It was a performance of notable significance. It was a performance which capped a season of five wins ranging from the unfamiliar distance of six furlongs to 12 furlongs. Such was the effect of the four length win by 2013 Derby winner in the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup (12-furlongs) on Boxing Day. Perfect Neighbour’s win over Commanding Chief and Typewriter not only vaulted the four-year-old into Horse of the Year contention, it established him as the premier stayer in the land. Benefiting somewhat from a pull in the handicaps, Perfect Neighbour with his new partner, apprentice Shamaree Muir watched proceedings from behind as Commanding Chief (Dane Nelson) set the fractions with Typewriter behind.
Leaving the six and a half furlong marker, Muir seemingly tired of waiting, asked his mount to move and after a brief tussle with
Commanding Chief simply pulled away to score convincingly in a rather eye catching time of 2:32.4 minutes. The record for 12 furlongs, 2:29.0 minutes was set in this same race in 1976 by Appeal Court. A most worthy contender for Horse-of- the-Year.
6. THE PERFORMANCES BY ALACRANN
On the September 10, 2014, Alacrann, a two-year-old chestnut colt by Traditional out of Maria’s Appeal by Maria’s Mom made his first assured steps on the racetrack and won over 800 metres in 48:0 seconds. He was then beaten by Come Dance With Me in the Cash Pot ‘Only One For Me’ trophy, first leg in the series and Polly B in the Juvenile Sprint on Superstakes Day in his next two outings. The late kicking sort then produced two tremendous stretch runs to win the last two races in the series – the Pick 3 Super Challenge Trophy over 1,400 metres in 1:26:3 minutes and The Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes over 1,600 metres in an impressive 1:39:2 minutes. The latter win earned him the position of top juvenile in the land.
7. RELAMPAGO’S DERBY AND ST LEGER VICTORIES
Relampago established himself as the one of top three-year-olds in the land with emphatic victories in the Derby and the St Leger. The Anthony Nunes-trained Relampago, although not winning any race after winning the Derby and St Leger capped an outstanding season and will be moving to Trinidad and Tobago to start a new chapter in his racing career. Relampago also finish a close second to Talented Tony K – who won the 2,000 Guineas, in the Governor’s Cup. Definitely one the best three-year-old of 2014.
8. BLESSTINE WINNING AT B 506-1
On November 22, 2014 Blesstine shocked the entire racing fraternity when he won on November 22 at one of the longest-odds in the history of racing at Caymanas Park which started in 1959, setting the cat among the pigeons. Blesstine, ridden by Dennis Brown and trained by Roy Mathews, won at the unbelievable odds of 506-1, paying a win dividend of $25,334 for a minimum betting wager of $50 and $3,264 to place. No punter was able to find the exacta (first and second in that order) – (Blesstine – Peckaroni) so the exacta was paid out on (first and third) – (Blesstine and Western Faith) a whopping $254,488.
9. Step It Up winning six in a row
While it can be rightly said that it has happened in the past, nowadays it is a rarity to witness a horse winning six races in a row, especially in claiming races. On November 1, 2014, Step It Up completed his sixth consecutive victory in four months when he won an Overnight Allowance event over 1,100 metres – the first time running at this level. Step It Up started the winning streak on June 29 over 1,200 metres, and has since triumphed twice over the five-straight course, one over the minimum round course and now twice over 1,100 metres. Jockey Robert Halledeen was aboard Step It Up on all six occasion, while been trained by Steadman Curtis. However his winning streak came to an end when he was beaten into fifth place by Crucial Appeal on December 14. For a claiming horse to win six consecutive races is really an outstanding achievement and must be recognised.
10. SUNLIGHT EXPRESS WINS EIGHT RACES
The speedy sort Sunlight Express has really enjoyed good form in the 2014 racing season. The chestnut horse visited the winner’s enclosure on eight occasions, which came in both high claiming ($550,000-$500,000) events and Overnight Allowance company. Sunlight Express wins came from 14 starts and have earned over $2.65 million in stakes. His last victory came on December 14 when he completed a hat-trick of wins among claimers going over 1,100 metres.
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Top 10 outstanding achievements in racing 2014
