BY HURBUN WILLIAMS

Observer writer

FAVOURITES New Kingston and Quatro Mori won the $715,000 George Hosang Trophy principal feature and the $462,000 CTL Claiming Series supporting feature respectively, to share the spotlight at Caymanas Park yesterday.

New Kingston, an American import who was installed the even-money favourite, came running on from below the distance to win the George Hosang Trophy by 1 1/4 lengths from a fighting The Chief, a 4-1 bet ridden by Dick Cardenas, who looked the likely winner after disposing the early pace setter Mr Skill and Triple Account inside the final 200 metres of the race.

But New Kingston, all the time tracking fractions of 22.3 and 45.4, began to gather momentum and found extra passing the dummy rails.

With no obstacle in his path but a strong headwind while charting his course on the outside, New Kingston came surging forward to hit the front close home to make if two from two over the straight course for the season with champion jockey Omar Walker in the saddle.

Prepared for the event by top conditioner Wayne DaCosta for owners E DaCosta, G Dulal-Whiteway, W Kong, and Raymond Rousseau, New Kingston ran 1,000 metres straight in a time of 59.2 in the 10-horse field for Overnight Allowance, three-year-olds and upward.

Triple Account, the mount of the 3.0kg claiming apprentice Jodeien Anderson and a specialist over the distance, closed well in the final rush for the wire to be nose out third by The Chief, with Mr Skill, well backed at odds of 2-1 and ridden by Wesley, completing the frame after the strong head took its toll on his early effort.

New Kingston, a four-year-old bay gelding by Delawre Township out of Glory Ghost (Silver Ghost), was bred by Casey Seaman in the USA. It was the importee’s fourth win from 12 career starts and he earned $390,400 as the winner’s share for his connection to increase earnings to $1,993,150 lifetime.

Earlier, Quatro Mori, the 3-5 favourite, beat Venice Mellesa to romp the CTL Claiming Series #1 Race #2 by 10 lengths.

Ridden by Paul Francis, Quatro Mori shot to the front entering the final 600 metres closely tracked by Unbreakable Heart under Walker.

However, something went amiss with his pursuer and Quatro Mori went about his business to register his second win for the season from for starts in the field of eight for the claiming spread $250,000 – $210,000 three-year-olds and upward who have started for a claiming tag of $250,000 or less since November 20 last year.

Trained by Ryan Darby for owners O’Shaun Connection, the four-year-old bay gelding ran 1,100 metres a time of 1:08.1. Though not at his best, Unbreakable Heart still held on gamely to finish third as a 4-1 bet a nose back with the 5-1 chance Timothy Scott completing the frame with Devon A Thomas astride.

He earned $252,250 as the winner’s share for earnings of $1,061,250 lifetime from 19 career starts.