Green Gold Rush stuns rivals at Caymanas Park
AFTER a superb stretch run, with several horses spread across the race track, Green Gold Rush broke clear to upset his more-fancied rivals in the $1.14-million, top-rated, Non-Restricted Overnight Allowance contest at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
Green Gold Rush, who turned for home in eighth position in the 16-horse field, produced a strong run on the inside rails in deep stretch to beat rivals by three quarters of the length in the three-year-old and upward event over six and a half furlongs (1,300m).
Green Gold Rush, trained by Dalton Sirjue, got off to a slow start as apprentice jockey Jawara Steadman kept the six-year-old bay gelding in the middle of the pack while Alexa’s Lodge (Ramon Nepare) led the field down the backstretch ahead of Brinks (Omar Walker) and Power Ranking (Dane Ranking).
As the half-mile (800m) turn approached, Power Ranking took over from Alexa’s Lodge and Brinks while Green Gold Rush made slight progress but was still trailing the leaders.
When all appeared lost for Green Gold Rush in deep stretch, Steadman summoned his mount for an effort and the bay gelding, who hugged the inside rails, exploded like a cannon ball when it mattered the most, finishing in 1:21.4 (23.3 x 47.1 x 14.0).
Power Ranking finished second, and Champion Bubbler (Raddesh Roman) finished third.
With the victory, Steadman won his second race of the day — having earlier ridden Babla to victory in the fifth race for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Azan. Azan then saddled Slammer (Dane Dawkins) in the following race for a double.
In addition to Slammer, Dawkins rode Norblar to victory in the seventh race for owner/trainer Gresford Smith.
Racing resumes the next weekend with events on Saturday and Sunday.