Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

OUTSTANDING, one of four winners for title-chasing jockey Dane Nelson, lived up to her name at Caymanas Park yesterday with an impressive post-to-post victory in the 17th running of the Arthur Jones Memorial Cup grade one feature over 1200 metres.

Trained by Gresford Smith for owner Khadene S. Saunders, OUTSTANDING won by 3 3/4 lengths, posting her second feature race win from as many starts this season.

Bred by her former owner Roylton D'Cambre, the classy five-year-old mare by Law Of The Sea out of Tropical Magic had previously won the Abe Issa Memorial Cup over the distance in a driving finish from MUCHO GUSTO on January 31.

Old rival MUCHO GUSTO was declared a late non-starter yesterday (lame), making it much easier for OUTSTANDING.

She was early in the lead from 5-2 chance AHWHOFAH, under champion jockey Omar Walker, followed by 10-1 shot ENGLISH STORM in a field of six.

Leading unmolested passing the half mile, OUTSTANDING soon opened up the throttle to turn for home some four lengths clear of ENGLISH STORM (10-1) and AHWHOFAH then only had to be pushed out to win easily from 3-2 favourite MEDICAL REPORT (outpaced early) in the fairly good time of 1:12.2 on a slow track.

Sent to stud

Smith, a second-generation trainer, said he was pretty confident as OUTSTANDING had worked exceptionally well coming into the race.

"I knew she was the lone speed and although narrowly beaten by Ahwhofah over the said distance in the Caribbean Sprint last November, she was weighted to turn the tables and I also expected her to beat MUCHO GUSTO and MEDICAL REPORT again.

"Considering that she was sent to stud early last year, didn't hold and had to return to active competition, I would say she came back even better ... She's a remarkable campaigner and still has many more races to win," said 'Greasy' Smith of OUTSTANDING, trained by Hall of Famer' Allan 'Billy' Williams throughout her three-year-old career.

She has now won 11 races from 17 career starts, with total stakes of $4.2 million.

Nelson also won aboard 1-2 favourite POSEIDON in the second race, FLY TO THE MOON at 6-5 in the third, and SCHOOLGIRL at 5-2 in the fourth race over 1100 metres for four-year-olds and up (fillies and mares).

He thus pushed his tally to 24, to hold down second place in the standings - only two behind reigning champion Omar Walker who rode three winners in 2000 Guineas contender THE GUMMER, stable-companion LITTLE WASP, both for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, and 8-5 favourite DUST ROCK in the fifth race for $180,000 claimers.