PIECE A FOOT, running at odds of 10-1 under title-chasing jockey Dane Nelson, produced a terrific late burst to catch 2-1 favourite TIMOTHY SCOTT close to home in the James B. Dawes Memorial Trophy feature (claiming $325,000-$295,000) over 1300 metres at Caymans Park yesterday.

Claimed for $270,000 out of his last race on January 31, PIECE A FOOT, though stepping up in class, reported a lot more focused and Nelson rode a well-timed race from well off the pace.

With highly fancied JET BLASTER dissipating his chances by walking out of the starting gate, it was the recent winner TASSY'S WHIP who made the early running from TIMOTHY SCOTT and LIGHT MY FIRE (10-1) in a field of nine.

Cut down

TIMOTHY SCOTT, the mount of in-form Richie Mitchell, assumed the lead from TASSY'S WHIP at the halfway stage, but although racing into a clear lead over LIGHT MY FIRE passing the furlong pole, faltered in the last 100 metres and was cut down by a flying PIECE A FOOT.

The four-year-old bay gelding from the stables of Wilfred Chin got up in the nick of time to beat TIMOTHY SCOTT by three-quarter length, with another neck to the ever-present LIGHT MY FIRE in third.

By Vanadium out of the Royal Minister mare Jah-Bra-Ky, PIECE A FOOT is owned by H & R and was bred by Industry and Commerce Minister, Karl Samuda. Although reporting up in class under new management (claimed), the victory was not unexpected.

"When we got him at the end of January, we realised that he had done too much work on the track, so we lightened up his work load," explained owners' representative Donovan Russell.

"That obviously did the trick as the horse he lost to over a mile last time out, Samba Dancer, was soundly beaten in this rematch," added Russell.

Tough day for form players

Meanwhile, on what turned out to be a tough day for form players, as some notable tipsters failed to spot a winner, Mitchell rode two winners in HE'S TRICKY at 7-1 in the fourth race and 3-2 chance THEDIVINEKING in the fifth, to be third in the jockeys' standings with 11 winners. That is nine adrift two-time champion and leader, Omar Walker, who sat out day one of a three-day suspension.

The day's major upset was turned in by the 37-1 outsider, HIGH ROLLER, who made all impressively in the $600,000-$550,000 special claiming over the straight five course, winning by two lengths from YOSHI and 6-5 favourite NASATOL. He was saddled by Andrew McDonald.