By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
Trevor Simpson... rode two winners.
IN A driving finish, KING AL got up in the nick of time to catch long-time leader THE ADMIRAL by a short head in the overnight allowance feature for the Gerry Skelton Memorial Cup over 1100 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Skilfully ridden by 3kg claiming apprentice Howard Newell, the six-year-old bay gelding from the stables of Richie Todd won at odds of 7-2 in a field of nine, while THE ADMIRAL, with Ameth Robles up, was a 12-1 shot.
Finishing close up in third, a farther three-quarter length away, was the 9-5 favourite CRUCIAL POINT under champion jockey Trevor Simpson, as highly fancied STORYBOUND at 5-2 placed fourth.
With the fleet-footed CRUCIAL POINT slowly into stride from the outside post position, THE ADMIRAL seized the opportunity to lead from the highly fancied importee RIZZI LEE (2-1) and MILLENIUM PRINCESS. However, CRUCIAL POINT soon found his best stride to go in chase of the leader leaving the 600-metre pole with STORYBOUND also on the improve at this stage.
THE ADMIRAL turned for home seemingly under pressure from CRUCIAL POINT on the outside and STORYBOUND on the inside. However, KING AL, who was never far off the pace, had improved nicely on the outside to straighten in fourth spot.
But despite the efforts of STORYBOUND and CRUCIAL POINT to get on terms in the stretch duel, THE ADMIRAL held on dourly until the last 50 metres when KING AL produced a late burst on the outside to lead close to home.
QUICK CHANGE
"I was told to come the last two," disclosed Newell. "After coming down nicely into fourth at the top of the lane and I realised that my horse was full of running, I resorted to some quick change of holds and was able to get there in time," added Newell who duly completed a quick double by winning aboard 3-1 chance SPEED MACHINE in the closing race over the straight five course.
"I have ridden a few winners for Mr. Todd this year. I remember winning the Labour Day Trophy for him with RUCKUS back in May. He's a good trainer and I like riding horses for him," said the apprentice.
KING AL, who was claimed by Todd for $390,000 from champion trainer Wayne DaCosta when the horse won easily over 1100 metres on October 18, chalked up his fourth win from 16 starts this season and stakes of more than $1.2 million. The son of Al's River Cat - Zuki Princess is owned by X Factor.
Earlier in the afternoon, the 7-5 marginal favourite UNLEADED (Shane Ellis up) outstayed his highly fancied stable-companion UNTOUCHABLE (Simpson astride) to win the restricted allowance V for the Glen T. Williamson Cup secondary feature over 2000 metres. Both are trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes but for different owners.
Always prominent, UNTOUCHABLE assumed the lead from JERICHO 600 metres out, but proved no match for UNLEADED who ran through from just off the early pace a furlong out to beat him by five lengths in a field of 10. The winner is owned and bred by Roylton D'Cambre.
The two remaining trophy races on the card saw the Ken Mattis-trained GRACIOUS GIFT (Ellis up) coming through in mid-stretch to win the Flossie McNeil Memorial Cup over 1200 metres at odds of 9-5. And the debutante BLACK RIVER, running at odds of 5-1 with four-time champion Charles Hussey riding for his family, stormed through on the rails leaving the furlong pole to humble fellow newcomer and howling favourite RAGING STORM in the Sunnyside Stakes for two-year-olds over 1100 metres.
Ellis, Simpson and Newell rode two winners each, Simpson moving to 115.
