Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

WALKER

RED-HOT apprentice Omar Walker was at it again at Caymanas Park yesterday, twirling his second consecutive five-timer to race 12 clear of arch-rival Trevor Simpson in their championship race.

His winners were UNCLE D & ME, a 1-5 favourite for trainer Robert Darby Sr. in the second race, 4-5 favourite TOCUMEN, again for Darby in the fourth, FUSILIER at 2-5 for trainer Anthony Ferguson in the fifth, MEDICAL REPORT at 1-9 for veteran trainer Noel Ennevor in the eighth and the Collin Blair-trained TIMOTHY SCOTT, a 6-5 favourite in the closing race for the Clifford Grey Memorial Cup (3-y-o maidens) over 1300 metres.

With Simpson sitting out the final day of a two-day suspension for careless riding, Walker seized the opportunity yet again to chalk 10 winners in two race days, having ridden the first five-timer of his career last Saturday to be on 69 wins.

Staring down the barrel

Simpson returns from suspension on Saturday but, as things now stand, the five-time champion is staring down the barrel of a hot magnum. He faces a really Herculean task if he hopes to get back to Walker with just over two months of the season remaining.

An elated Walker, hailed by his multitude of fans as the best apprentice since Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry, says he is taking things in his stride and enjoying the moment as he bids for the jockeys' championship in his first full season in the saddle.

"I'm just making use of my op-portunities," said the 24-year-old apprentice. "Right now I am fit and focused and this is reflected in my riding ... 10 winners in two race days," said Walker, who is seeking to emulate his mentor Henry, who won the title in his first full season as an apprentice in 1997.

The lightly raced 3-y-o colt TIMOTHY SCOTT returned from an 11-month absence to win the feature race in post-to-post fashion. Bred by Ken Gooden, the Outrigger - World Of Light offspring turned for home ahead of the chasing JJ'S RED ROCKET and highly fancied BORDER PATROL (2-1) and tiring a bit in the closing stages, held on by 2³/⁴ lengths from MOUNT DIABLO in a field of 13.

Trainer Collin Blair said TIMOTHY SCOTT sustained a cracked sesamoid after finishing second to RUM TALK on his debut on November 18 last year and this required "special magnetic therapy". Hence, his lengthy absence.

Trainer Robert Darby, who obtained a licence in 1991, saddled his 500th winner in UNCLE D & ME and wasted no time in going for the next hundred when TOCUMEN obliged an hour later. The 63-year-old trainer said: "This is very gratifying and is the result of hard work, sacrifice and application. I take the opportunity to thank the owners who have supported me over the years as well as my grooms."