THE Guv returned to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since Boxing Day after pushing aside his younger rivals in the $715,000 Gerry Skelton Trophy Overnight Allowance feature at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

Trained by Spencer Chung for owners WP Valentine Chung & Howard Hamilton & Robert F Chung, jockey Shane Ellis brought the aging The Guv, a 5-2 betting option, with a fairytale late run on the outside that crippled the front runners before going on to the winner’s enclosure for the first time for the season after seven starts as a seven-year-old.

Rio Cobre, the 2-1 second favourite, was 11/4 length second ridden by claiming apprentice Romario Saunders. Stablemate and the even money favourite Hupomone, ridden by Dick Cardenas, was third 4 1/4 lengths back with the 7-2 chance Awesome Camille under leading jockey Omar Walker completing the frame of seven. The time for 1,100 metres was 1:06.2.

It was a race that was tailor-made for The Guv and trainer Chung thought that his horse had a decent chance of coming out on top. “There was a lot of speed in the race, but although some thought it was a little short, I thought otherwise. Going short it was a little easier to run on when there is a lot of speed in the race, and it turned out as I hoped and am quite happy,” Chung added.

It was the 10th win of the season for Chung, who earlier in the season saddled Saint Cecelia to a record-breaking 13th consecutive win for the same connections as The Guv.

A seven-year-old grey horse by Royal Minister out of Havasac (Robyn Dancer) bred by the connections, The Guv was winning for the 11th occasion from 45 career starts and earned $390,400 as the winner’s share for a bankroll of $8,010,300 lifetime.

Meanwhile, no trainer saddled more than one winner, while jockeys Paul Francis and Richard Mairs highlighted the 10-race card with two wins each. Mairs had the leg up on The Real Rhythm in the second race for owner/trainer Anthony Ferguson, while Francis booted home Princess Sassy in the eighth for trainer Noel Ennevor and closed the programme aboard The Valedictorian for trainer Ryan Darby.