Cue Seven claims Morrison Memorial
FAVOURED filly Fluffy presented champion trainer Wayne DaCosta with his 1,600 career wins by winning the $715,000 Overnight Allowance test at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Earlier, Cue Seven, a 7-1 chance part-owned and trained by Linton Calder, won the $480,600 Joshua Morrison Memorial Cup Restricted Allowance V feature by 2 1/2 lengths, albeit in the Stewards’ Room.
This was after first past the post, Time Of Storm, a 9-2 bet ridden by Richard Mairs, was disqualified and placed fourth behind Call For A Cat for an infringement in the drive.
Cue Seven, ridden by Aaron Chatrie and owned by Quando, ran 1,500 metres in a time of 1:36.2. Chadhalia, a 6-1 chance ridden by Rayan Wilson, was promoted to second following the disqualification, with Call For A Cat moving up to third spot as a 48-1 betting option, ridden by Dane Nelson.
In the penultimate Overnight Allowance test which gave DaCosta his milestone, it took only a hand ride to get the job done by jockey Wesley Henry, who was also recording his 602nd winners at the Park.
Electing to get the filly well away at the off, she gradually distanced herself from the field to win by a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths. The final time for 1500 metres was 1:33.2.
Esquire, a five-year-old bay horse running among Overnight Allowance horses, and seen as the prime threat to the 3-5 favourite, ran as was expected but could do no better than completing the exact as a 7-2 chance, ridden by Trevor Simpson.
Machismo, fairly well supported at odds of 4-1 and who tracked the winner deep inside the home stretch, finished another 1 3/4 away third, with Classic Beau, neglected in the betting at odds of 55-1, completing the frame, partnered by Paul Francis.
Owned by Elizabeth DaCosta & Edmund Thomas, Fluffy, a four-year-old filly by Chelsey cat out of Carol’s Littlebit (Above Normal) and bred by Nancy C Shuford, was winning for the seventh time from 14 career starts. She earned $390,400 as the winner’s share for earnings of $3,458,050 lifetime.
Meanwhile Henry, who also rode Red Flag in the sixth race to victory, shared riding honours with Paul Francis, who also rode two winners in the 44-1 chance Therealprince in the second race and brought the curtains down aboard 1:4 favourite Molten King in the 10th and final race.