Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Winning groom Ian Wallace greets his charge CHADMAN (Dane Nelson up) with a kiss after the gelding's 17-1 upset victory in the BG&LC Trophy race at Caymanas Park, yesterday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Jockey Dane Nelson highlighted yesterday's Emancipation Day programme at Caymanas Park with three winners, including the 17-1 outsider CHADMAN in the fifth running of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission BG & LC Trophy open allowance race over 1400 metres, the day's feature.

Nelson also won aboard 9-2 chance JET BLASTER for trainer Tony Kirlew in the fourth race over 1200 metres and 2-1 favourite MILLION DOLLARBABY in the sixth race for maiden three-year-olds over the straight five course.

Both CHADMAN and MILLION DOLLARBABY were saddled by champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, who posted a third winner in the two-year-old debutante STORMIN AWAY.

FASTEST AWAY

It was highly fancied CALABASH BAY (3-1) who was fastest away on the outside in the BG & LC Trophy, but was soon joined by CHADMAN who forged ahead approaching the half-mile.

CHADMAN turned for home some three lengths clear of CALABASH BABY and 2-1 second favourite MAJOR MAYER, then found a lot extra under a torrid left hand stick when MAJOR MAYER mounted a feeble challenge approaching the distance, holding them at bay by 1-1/2 lengths.

CALABASH BAY squeezed home for second, a neck ahead of the winner's late closing stable-companion GOOD COMPANY (16-1) and MAJOR MAYER.

Owned by Bitter Sweet, the American five-year-old gelding was posting his second win in six weeks, both over 1400 metres with Nelson in the saddle.

The jockey said he knew his rivals were in trouble when he turned for home on the lead with a lot in hand.

"I've ridden this horse on a number of occasions and the plan was to grab the lead from early and regulate the pace," said Nelson.

"In the straight I could hear them coming. But he responded nicely to the whip by holding on well to the wire," explained the jockey.

Gimmick race

Nelson added that his good form in recent months could be attributed to the fact that he is training harder, feeling stronger and balancing his horses more effectively.

As a result of this three-timer, Nelson has moved from 10th to eighth in the standings with 21 winners this season.

Meanwhile, popular clocker Oliver Buchanan and female partner Sasheena Stewart won the inaugural BG & LC Gimmick Race over 200 metres ahead of six opponents (pairs).

Buchanan, who has been training at Caymanas Park for the past three months, broke sharply from the number two post position and made all, winning easily at odds of 5-2 from Oneil White and Racquel Taylor.

The winning pair received $18,000, second $10,000, third $7,000 and fourth $5,000.

In other races on the card, JACK BE GOOD with title-chasing apprentice Omar Walker riding for trainer Patrick Chang, went wire-to-wire in the opening Emancipation Day Trophy race (high claiming), while the Charles Randle Trophy went to 1-9 favourite BLUE CHIP under leading jockey Trevor Simpson and the Albert Rose Memorial Trophy to 5-1 chance NAVAJOJOE, the first winner for new trainer Fitzgerald Richards.

JET BLASTER (left), one of three winners for jockey Dane Nelson, wins the fourth race over 1200 metres for the claiming group $315,000-$300,000 at Caymanas Park yesterday. -colin hamilton/freelance photographer