LIKE the Phoenix, Technomoto rose from the ashes, dusted off his iron shoes to highlight the midweek card with a thumping win in the $786,500 Nigel B Nunes Memorial Cup Open Allowance feature by seven lengths at Caymanas Park yesterday.

The win also prolonged the dominance of trainer Anthony Nunes in the event that is run annually to perpetuate the name of his father who was champion trainer in 1978.

Owned by Elias Haloute & Stephan Narinesingh and hitherto disappointing after romping the Jamaica Derby by 10 lengths last year by failing to cope with Overnight Allowance horses, the son of Western Classic was neglected in the betting as a 10-1 shot but looked a completely different animal among Open Allowance company while running over a distance for which he shows a particular likeness.

Ridden by the leading jockey Dane Nelson and running as he likes it from in front, Technomoto completed 1,820 metres in a smart 1:55.1 to silence his critics.

One swallow does not make a summer but the performance yesterday under the strong handling of Nelson was instructive after both stable rider Dick Cardenas and the four-time champion jockey having failed to land the gamble in company not as rich as yesterday’s.

Nelson, who was only the third jockey to have the leg up on Technomoto said afterwards: “I know that he likes to run from in front and my intention was to go to the front and rate him from there and see what happens from there on. However, after reaching the 800 metres point he seemed to become more lively and from that point on I did not think that they would get back,” he said.

Raise A Ruckus, the 3-5 favourite ridden by Winston Griffiths, was second followed by Nyabinghi, who was third as a 3-1 bet ridden by Robert Stewart, with Uncle Donny ridden by Cardenas completing the frame as the 8-5 second favourite in the field of six.

— Hurbun Williams