BY RUDDY ALLEN

Observer Racing Writer

DESPITE a fantastic four-timer by outgoing champion owner Carlton ‘Cal’ Watson, it was the Patrick Chang-conditioned Lady Sangeeta that took the spotlight on the final raceday of the 2014 campaign.

With the talented American-bred colt and morning line favourite Super Quality announced as a late scratch from the six-horse field, the two-year-old dark bay filly seized the opportunity and romped the 21st running of the Sweet Ruckus Trophy on the 10-race programme at Caymanas Park yesterday.

With a tight hold from ‘big race’ jockey Shane Ellis, the WB Racing-owned Lady Sangeeta (Blue Pepsi Lodge-En Vogue by French Champagne) was sent to the lead and made all the running as she emphatically won the Graded Stakes event for native-bred and imported two-year-olds by a commanding five-and-a-half lengths.

The talented filly was registering her second victory from as many starts after she was well guided by Ellis using hands only in the last furlong as the duo cruised home in a smart time of 1:29:3 minutes going over 1,400 metres.

Lady Sangeeta has now established herself as one for the upcoming 2015 Classic season.

Original Train (Richard Mairs up) – was outpaced at the back of the four-horse field leaving the 1,000-metre pole – came with a strong run to finish second ahead of Love Train (Georgina Sergeon astride) with debutante Action Man, the mount of Clive Lynch, completing the frame. Eldorado, the mount of Rayan Wilson, was also scratched from the event.

Meanwhile, Watson, who entered yesterday’s race meet trailing leader Elite Bloodstock Limited by just over $2 million in the race for the owners’ championship, failed to defend his crown as his four winners only earned him over $1.2 million. But despite falling short, Watson was happy with his four winners.

“This is just a great day for me. It is always a great feeling to win four races, especially four consecutive races,” Watson told the Sunday Observer.

One of his four winners came in the day’s co-feature, the Stewards’ Cup. The Wayne DaCosta-trained Supertronics (Halledeen in the saddle), who landed the maiden special weight event for two-year-old colts and geldings going over 1,000 metres round by an ever-increasing nine-and-a-half lengths.

Watson’s other winners were Jack De Charmer (Shamaree Muir up) in the second race

over 1,200 metres, also trained by Wayne DaCosta, St Bernard, with Halledeen again

in the saddle, for trainer Lawrence Freemantle in the fourth race over 1,200 metres. Both Halledeen and DaCosta completed a triple and the fourth for Watson when Deo Volente dismissed rivals in the fifth event over 1,300 metres.

Racing continues on Thursday, New Year’s Day.