LEADING from the start of the $3.3 million Lotto Classic for the Governor’s Cup, Uncle Taf maintained a sustained stretchrun to stun the 3-2 favourite Bigman In Town by one half length at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Ridden by Andre Martin, and installed a 25-1 bet in the native-bred three-year-old Futurity race over 2,000 metres, it was the first start for Uncle Taf since going down to the American import Jah Love over 1,820 metres on April 20.

Trained by Owen Sharpe, who is also the owner/breeder along with son Solomon, Uncle Taf, who was never headed in the two-turn race, completed the trip in a time of 2:10.0 minutes.

Bigman In Town, ridden by Omar Walker, came charging forward after setting down for the drive, but Uncle Taf had done enough to last home.

Rum Punch, who at odds of 5-1 kept close company with Uncle Taf until he was passed by Bigman In Town close home, was another half length back in third ridden by Dick Cardenas, with his stablemate Perfect Neighbour completing the frame under Dane Nelson at odds of 5-2 in the field of 15.

A full slate of 16 was originally declared, but the topweighted Hover Craft was reported sick and became a late non-starter.

An out-of-breath Solomon Sharpe said after the most unlikely victory for Uncle Taf that his father deserved much the credit for the horse’s performance: “Most of the praise for this performance by Uncle Taf must go to trainer Owen Sharpe for his effort in getting this horse to where it stands today. My father has to take all the credit, as he worked around the clock on this horse. He will call me five o’clock in the morning, 12 o’clock in the day, five o’clock in the evening and before he goes to his bed at nights. He worked round the clock to get this result.”

He added: “We thought that we were going to win the Triple Crown for native-bred two-year-olds last year, but we had some challenges. We had a situation at the gates and after this we put him down for a time and brought him back in January against the foreigners, and then worked steadily to prepare him for the Classics.

“I did not think that he was one hundred per cent (healthy). I can’t tell you what, but he was not a hundred per cent for the Guineas, but he was only four lengths off the winner. Uncle Taf has carried weight before he has run against imported horses and has proven to be capable.”

In assessing the situation with the number one draw and the wet underfoot condition, Solomon said: “I thought it turned out to be a blessing when the ‘old man’ called and told me that we drew (barrier) #1. With such a draw and you get bogged down with heavy underfoot condition, this could be a catastrophic. However, if you noticed around the back the only horse that was in the rain throughout the entire time was Uncle Taf. The last race that he won was similar underfoot condition, so that tells you he would have loved the underfoot condition, and it was now left up to the jockey to do the rest.”

Martin said that he just followed the instructions of the trainer. He is a very nice horse, and as long as you get to know [him] he will run his heart out for you.”

Martin said he had not doubt that he would have won the race, but after leaving the ‘club house turn’ he felt so good it increased the possibility of victory. At the 1,200-metre mark the field began to quicken, and I just gave him his head and let him do what he wants to do, and at the last quarter there is where I played my part, and trust me, he responded well throughout.”

Uncle Taf is a chestnut gelding by Traditional out of Zaza (Star Attitude) and was winning for the third time from eight career starts and earned $1,720,000 as the winner’s share for earnings of $3,943,850 lifetime.

Meanwhile Saint Cecelia extended her record consecutive win streak to 14 when she landed the Lotto Sprint Trophy over 1,100 metres in the 10th and penultimate event on the 11-race card under regular rider Shane Ellis for trainer Spencer Chung.

Saint Cecelia, after leading from gate to wire, lasted home by a diminishing margin of one half length from the American Blast Them Away under Dick Cardenas, Palace Gold and The Guv.

And former champion Omar Walker highlighted the programme with four winners — Woman is Boss, Emergence, Sista Margarett and Sankofa.