Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterCATCH THE CUT, an American bred five-year-old mare who had gone winless in 37 starts locally, finally came good at Caymanas Park yesterday with a stunning upset in the Long Shot Trophy feature (claiming $160,000) over 1300 metres.
Ridden by co-leading jockey Dane Nelson for trainer Andrew McDonald, CATCH THE CUT, running at huge odds of 39-1 in a field of 14, stormed through early in the straight to win by 4 1/4 lengths from the 8-5 favourite RAZZAK with joint leading jockey Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry aboard.
In third place, a farther 1 1/2 lengths away, was 6-1 chance MEDICAL ACCOUNT while fourth went to the 99-1 outsider FORSETI.
Never far off the pace as TOO HOT TO TROT and the well-backed VISIONARY (5-1) alternated in the lead, CATCH THE CUT was produced as they swung into the straight.
She disposed of VISIONARY approaching the distance and streaked away for an impressive win. RAZZAK, who raced prominently along with MEDICAL ACCOUNT, stayed on to complete the first three places.
CATCH THE CUT is owned by Big Business and was bred in the US at Ryder River Ridge Farms.
McDonald said he was expecting a strong run from CATCH THE CUT after her good effort behind JACK DE FREAK on the previous Saturday, but the jockey was more confident.
TURNED OUT PERFECTLY
"I didn't even give him instructions. I just told him to ride her as he saw fit and in the end things turned out perfectly," said McDonald, who acquired CATCH THE CUT at the back-end of last season and this was her sixth run under his guidance.
On a day when no jockey rode more than one winner, Nelson seized the opportunity to join co-leaders Henry and Charles Hussey at the top of the jockeys' standings with 11 winners each. Right on their heels with 10 is Oneil Mullings, who rode four winners last Wednesday.
Champion jockey Brian Harding, now back to defend his title, notched one winner in 2-5 favourite LA REINA for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes and owner Elias Haloute in the opening straight five race, but had to dig deep in order to win in a driving finish from MUSICAL MAESTRO with former champion and arch rival Trevor Simpson aboard.
Harding, who returned from Trinidad earlier in the week, has ridden two winners so far in 2006. Apart from yesterday, he had only ridden on February 18.
