MILESTONE FOR PERCY

Percy Williams is well known in racing circles as the gate master. If you want a horse to move as the gates open, Percy is the man. He has been around for a long time, sometimes going abroad to ride. During his time at the race track he has endeared himself to all with his calm but jovial personality.

On Wednesday last, Williams achieved a career milestone when he won his 600th race at Caymanas Park. As fate would have it, Percy’s 600th winner was a chance ride. He was not slated to ride Legendary Pleasure in the day’s fourth race, but when Ameth Robles was unable to take up duties, trainer Gary Subratie gave Williams the ride.

In a ding-dong battle in the straight, Percy used his guile and strength to get the better of Dick Cardenas who was atop Ettu Oracle. Number 600 for Percy Williams with many more to come. Congrats, Sir Percy!

RANDOLPH SCOTT FINDING THE WINNERS’ CIRCLE

Trainer Randolph Scott can rightly be listed as a journeyman conditioner. He has been around the racetrack doing his thing for a very long time. Of late Scott has been demonstrating a strong willingness to win races. With a very small barn, ‘Ranny’ ,as he is affectionately called, saddled his fourth winner for the 2013 season, when four-year-old maiden filly, Mek Dem Chat, came with a storming run on the rails to beat longtime leader Silent Storm by a neck with Richard Mitchell in the saddle.

Well done, trainer Scott, and please continue.

PROBABLY THE BIGGEST RAKE OF THE YEAR

It was so obvious that it really hurt. Probably the biggest rake for the year stood in front of punters on Wednesday, yet the betting public allowed Dagga Dagga Links to go off at odds of 8-1 in the feature Royal Lancaster Trophy race contested over 1,000 metres round (5f).

Imagine Dagga Dagga Links ridden by apprentice rider Prince Holder, who is known by everyone in racing by his nickname – ‘Dagger Man’.

The howling favourite in the event was Rocket Man at 2-5. He lost his chance early when he came out of the gates slowly and although coming through in the final furlong of the race was unable to catch the ‘Dagga Man’ on Dagga Dagga Links who won by just over one length. Surely this was an awesome rake.

‘WACKY’ LYNCH CONTINUES GOOD FORM

Trainer Patrick ‘Wacky’ Lynch continued his recent good form with a fine double on Wednesday. Placing a lot of faith in jockey Omar Walker, Lynch’s winners were the outsider Concrete Jungle who scored at odds of 28-1 and Beast who was a runaway winner over the five straight. In addition, Traditional Prince also trained by Lynch and ridden by Walker, finished a fighting third in the Overnight Allowance event offered on the day. That latter race was won by Argument Done with Jah Love second.

With those two winners, Lynch moved to 21 for the year, which must give him a look-in for the most improved trainer title.