Saturday May 23

ELEVEN HORSES CLAIMED ON SATURDAY

Eleven horses were claimed on the 12-race programme at Caymanas Park on Saturday. Striking Distance was claimed from Wayne DaCosta by Maurice Crook acting as both trainer and owner for $350,000; Sir Von was claimed by Tensang Chung for James Chen from Patrick Fong for $350,000; Clearly Ours was taken from Wilfred Chen by Lorne Kirlew for Rippon Racing Stables for $350,000; and Concrete Jungle was claimed from Patrick Lynch by Paul Smith for Deleta Brewster also for $350,000 from the second race. In the fourth race, Mr Luval was claimed for $450,000 from Cashbert Khwalsingh by Phillip Elliott for Basil Wade. Reign Over All was claimed by Michael McIntosh for Keisha Thomas from Patrick Lynch for $250,000; Tokico was taken by Fernando Geddes for Rohan Wright from Steven Todd for $250,000 and Cold Ground was claimed from Ray Phillips by Donovan Plummer for himself, also for $250,000. In the 12th and final event, Linton Calder claimed Alisonbee from Morris Powell for himself for $180,000; Paul Charlton lost Cause For Concern for $180,000 to Denrick Chambers acting as both trainer and owner and Steven Todd took Terra Marique from Victor Williams for Paul Taffe for $180,000.

CHANGE OF EQUIPMENT

The Harry Parsard-trained She Goose continued the trend of trainers making the correct change in equipment that has led to success. She Goose raced on Saturday with the tongue tie on and released the maiden tag defeating Sweet Dimension and Brave Prospect following the disqualification of second-placed Shine. Ridden by O’Brien White, She Goose was a half-length winner in 1:15:2 minutes for 1,200 metres.

ANDRE MARTIN RETURNS

Classic-winning jockey Andre Martin after a brief riding stint in Trinidad and Tobago returned to ride at Caymanas Park on Saturday. Martin, who came last Tuesday, rode Mr Luval to a fifth place finish in the fourth race over 1,820 metres – his only ride on the 12-race programme. “It is a good feeling to come back home as I always love to ride at Caymanas Park. The atmosphere and the people are just wonderful here. Here is home and I was dying to get back. I will leave for Trinidad soon to continue riding there but for now I am here and riding,” Martin told the Complete Racing Guide.

ROBERT HALLEDEEN IN HIS ‘ACKEE’

To say that jockey Robert Halledeen is riding in the form of his life would be an understatement of great magnitude. On Saturday, Halledeen was aboard three winners, Dripping In Gold and Miss Juanita for trainer Wayne DaCosta and Perfect Flyer for Patrick Lynch. Those three wins brought his tally thus far for the season to 32, just one winner behind champion Dane Nelson who has 33 winners to date following a winless day on Saturday. Shane Ellis is in third position with 31 wins following his two winning efforts, Persian Belle for Carl Anderson and Rock Union for Anthony Nunes. We are in for quite a contest in the jockeys’ champion.