IN a dramatic twist in the ongoing and intense battle for the title of champion jockey, reigning champion Dane Nelson, who started yesterday’s race day programme five winners behind leader Omar Walker, rode six winners to propel himself in the lead by one winner.

Walker was winless on the day.

It was truly a Sunday to remember for the champion jockey as, with the large gathering at the ‘Park’ cheering his every flash of the whip, Nelson was riding more than four winners on a single race day for the first time in his career. Walker was the leader in the championship among the riders since the start of the year and, even at the end of September, was 19 winners in front of Nelson, leading many race fans to declare him an easy winner.

Nelson kept plugging away and got his due reward — his spectacular six-timer. His winners were Deliciosa, Mr Perfection, Reign of Deftiny, Israelite, Double De Honey, and Di Cobre.

In the winners’ enclosure after his victory on Di Cobre, Nelson said he was over the moon.

“This has got to be the best racing day of my career. I have strong belief and despite a loss of form in midseason, I never gave up, and kept on trying and trying. It is not over as yet, but you can be sure, I will be giving it my all. I really feel over the moon today (yesterday). Six winners in one race day is special, really special,” Nelson said.

News, however, circulated at the racetrack at the end of the nine races that Nelson hurriedly left as he was not well. On Saturday last he was slated to ride 11 horses, but stopped after the sixth race, complaining of illness.

Nelson’s victory on Israelite came in the feature race on yesterday’s programme, the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup run over seven furlongs for juveniles. Israelite is trained by Richard Azan and owned by Elite Bloodstock.