TWO-TIME defending champion jockey Dane Nelson made his intention clear when he rode a fabulous four-timer on the nine-race programme to extend his lead over Dick Cardenas in the race for the Jockeys’ Championship at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Nelson, who was also coming off a three-timer on Superstakes Day, last Saturday, started yesterday’s midweek card one winner ahead of Cardenas, who could only manage one winner from his five mounts. Nelson, by virtue of yesterday’s four-timer, took his tally to 94 winners, four wins ahead of Cardenas, who is on 90.

Nelson’s winners included the Anthony Nunes-trained Houdini’s Magic, who came with a storming run in the final furlong to land the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup in fine style to open the programme.

A 5-1 betting chance, Houdini’s Magic was the last of six runners to leave the starting gates before making his move at the four-furlong point. Turning for home in fourth position on the outside, Nelson asked his mount to go and the dark bay colt by Performing Magic – Milestone responded well and got up in the nick of time to beat the 11-1 shot Computerize (Orayne Sewell up) –who looked the likely winner at the 100-metre mark — by one-half length in the maiden special weight event for native-bred two-year-olds going over 1,400 metres.

Long-time leader and the 1-5 favourite Merlin, under Omar Walker, finished in third just ahead of the 2-1 second favourite Scar, the mount of Richard Mairs, in fourth position.

Owned by Derrick Brandt and bred by Ruth Hussey, Houdini’s Magic posted a moderate 1:29.3 minutes for the distance raced.

Nunes said that he was confident that his charge would get the job done.

“The last time Houdini’s Magic raced, he was five lengths behind Scar and Merlin, so his chances were good among those same horses. Once he got some more workouts I knew that he wound be difficult to beat in this race,” the second- generation trainer told the Jamaica Observer.

Houdini’s Magic was the first of two winners for Nunes; the other being The Real Draft, with Shane Ellis doing duties.

Nelson’s other winners were Rolex in the third race, Battle Song in the fourth race, and El Numero Uno in the final event.

“It is always good to ride four winners…this showed that the hard work and dedication to the sport is paying off. Thanks to the trainers for the rides as they believed in me, as well as everybody else,” said Nelson, who is looking for his third consecutive jockeys’ title.

Cardenas’ lone winner came when he piloted the down-in-class Deo Volente to victory in the eighth race, a high claiming event ($550,000 – $500,000) for three-year-olds and upward going over 1,500 metres.

Trained by champion Wayne DaCosta, Deo Volente, who was coming from the Overnight Allowance company to contest this event, romped home by three-and-a-half lengths over Prince Oshaun (Shane Ellis up) and Sir Frederick (Trevor Simpson aboard) in a decent 1:34:1 minutes.

Meanwhile, Michael Bryan, elder brother of the recently deceased Peter Bryan, scored with Dutchrow, who won the seventh race for trainer Anthony Smith over 1,000 metres straight.

It was the first winner for Bryan in many years, after having his licence reinstated earlier this year.