Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

THERE WAS a dramatic outcome to the Abe Issa Memorial Cup feature race at Caymanas Park yesterday as first past the post MEDICAL REPORT was disqualified by the stewards and the race awarded to the 15-1 outsider ROMEZ.

As if that was not enough, the howling 1-4 favourite, OUTSTANDING, disappointed her horde of supporters by finishing a floundering last in a field of five it was not confirmed by trainer Allan 'Billy' Williams nor her owner/breeder Roylton D'Cambre, this could well be the four-year-old filly's last race before she retires to stud in time for the upcoming breeding season.

MEDICAL REPORT, running at odds of 4-1 with apprentice Andre Martin riding for in-form trainer Noel Ennevor, went wire-to-wire to pass the post three-quarters of a length ahead of ROMEZ under lightweight apprentice Carlton Malcolm.

But hardly had the dust settled, the stewards' inquiry sign went up. And following a lengthy inquiry, MEDICAL REPORT was disqualified and placed second, this for drifting out into the path of ROMEZ a furlong out, forcing Malcolm to take evasive action by switching his mount to the inside, and the race awarded to ROMEZ, the least fancied at 15-1 in the small field.

Finishing third, a further 2 1/4 length away, was FIRST IN THE SAND closing from last position, while top weight RAMPAGE (5-2), the more fancied stable companion of ROMEZ, was fourth with OUTSTANDING, under five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson, bringing up the rear after racing in fourth passing the half mile.

None Such Award

Bred by the Orange Valley Estates Limited, ROMEZ who won at odds of 19-1 over 1100 metres 10 days earlier, is owned by Milade Azan and trained by Richard Azan, who on Thursday night at the 19th annual 'Horse of the Year' awards dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus received the coveted None Such Award for having won the owners' championship seven times from 1995 to 2003.

ROMEZ is a four-year-old bay gelding by Pat N Jac out of Charmer For A Day. This was his sixth win from 15 career starts.

Meanwhile, THE BEST MAN (4-5 favourite) made all the running with Simpson astride to win the Howard Phillipps Memorial Cup over 1100 metres, this for native-bred four-year-olds and up, non-winners of three.

Trained by Dwight Chen for New Blue Limited, THE BEST MAN won by three lengths from 3-1 chance LADY INDIRA under leading jockey Shane Ellis. Six ran.

The trophy in memory of the late trainer who died tragically at Caymanas Park four years ago (to the day), was presented to the winning connections by Miss Jamaica World 2007 Yendi Phillipps, a niece of Howard Phillipps. She was accompanied by her father, Haleem, a former racing secretary of Racing Promotions Limited (now Caymanas Track Limited).

Neive Graham, who copped the most improved trainer award on Thursday night, posted the even-money favourite STATE PRINCE (Dane Nelson up) to an easy victory in the James B. Dawes Memorial Cup.

And the Philip Feanny-trained unbeaten three-year-old colt SUPER DAVE (Simpson up) humbled the previously unbeaten three-year-old filly AHWHOFAH in winning the opening race over 1200 metres by 5 1/4 lengths.