Chatrie stars with four-timer
LEADING apprentice Aaron Chatrie rode a four-timer to take riding honours at Caymanas Park yesterday and maintain his position on the jockeys’ standings with 23 winners to move into second position behind leader Omar Walker who himself rode two winners to move his tally to 35 on the nine-race midweek card.
Chatrie started the day on 19 wins and rode a double for trainer Anthony Nunes in the first and last races aboard Hera and Hackleton respectively and Lady Gorakhpur in the fourth race for trainer Harry Jaghai and Rip Current in the seventh for trainer Spencer Chung to complete his four-timer. He also moved up to second spot on the apprentices standings with 29 winners to be 15 behind leader Doushane Gordon on 44.
Meanwhile Walker piloted 6-5 favourite Dust Rock to win the $438,000 Roderick “Pilot” Francis Memorial Trophy claiming feature by two lengths over 5-2 betting option Charlie Chaplin ridden by Jason Simpson.
Owned and trained by Lazel Khwalsingh Dust Rock overcame hindrances to find racing room between horses in mid stretch to come away for his first win of the season from four starts among $180,000 claimers five-year-olds and upward who has started for a claiming tag of $180,000 since December 14 last year. He ran 1,200 metres in a time of 1:17.1 in the field of nine.
Second past the post Charlie Chaplin who led enterprisingly until passed by the winner in the final 150 metres held off third past the post the 23-1 shot Buck The Minister ridden by Jevvanne Anderson by a neck while Celebration Time, partnered by Larris Allen completed the frame at odds of 13-1.
Dust Rock, a nine-year-old dark bay/brown mare by Liver Stand out of Fabulous Bid (Texas Prospector) was bred by Williams McCurdy. It was her seventh win from 109 career starts and she earned $239,150 as the winner’s share for earnings of $3,358,050 lifetime.
Nunes who is second in the trainers’ championship race and saddled Hera and Hackleton was the day’s most successful trainer with two wins while Walker’s other win was aboard the Wayne DaCosta-conditioned Sir Von.
