Coconut Boy out-strides opposition at rain soaked RCMTC meet

Jul 16, 2009 Sports

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The Message, Justice Leroy, Finishing Touch also impressive

The one-day horserace meet organised by the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club (RCMTC) in collaboration with the Delmur Trading Company, Banks DIH Limited and Rhythm Star International Sounds, came off with a bang despite torrential rainfall.
The rain came with all its intensity and belted volumes of water on the arena, which left the track under inches of water at times. However, despite all the rain, there was no stopping the authorities from successfully running off an incident free day of racing, which heralded the second half of the season.
The track stood up like the rock of Gibraltar and remained firm throughout the day’s proceedings, confirming its status as one of the better racing tracks in Guyana.
Coconut Boy, owned by Paul Robertson of the Farina stable and trained by Fazal Habibullah, showed that it is back to top form. The animal used the opportunity to pound its opponents into submission, as it romped to victory in the feature Three-Year-Old Open event to cart off the $200,000 first prize, compliments of Banks DIH Limited and the coveted Omai Transportation Services trophy in the 1200m race.
As the horses left the starting gates, Coconut Boy was hardly challenged even as the other horses struggled in the wet conditions, making periodic burst to keep up with the leader. Piloted by Jockey Kevin Paul, Coconut Boy continued to grind its way forward as it literally sprinted away from the rest of the field to win by some eight lengths, and trigger wild celebrations, from its supporters. Top of The Line placed second, while pre race favourite Royal Champion was beaten into third place, Prixie Fire went cold as it finished fourth.
Jockey Kevin Paul was so caught up in the jubilation that he threw his whip high in the air in celebration before the completion of the event. The jockey was subsequently reprimanded by the officials and warned to desist from same.
The two-year-old animals had a bad orientation to the world of racing as they had to negotiate the wet conditions. However, this did not stop the largest field for the day 12, from taking to the starting line. The 950m race saw the officials resorting to the flag start. Justice Leroy owned by Selso Crawford, with Kumar Singh in the stirrups was in a no-nonsense mood, as it sailed away with the $150,000 top prize and the R. Matheson trophy ahead of Colin Elcock’s Peaceful. Mercia Silver held on for third, with Mona Lisa squeezing through for fourth.
The Message of the Elcock stable continues to send signals to its opponents even in the wet, toying with its opponents in the F class 1200m gallop, which was the distance for the other races due to the weather, to win the $140,000 first prize.

Laura Lee in Flight was off to a blistering start and held the lead for most of the race. However, as the animals took the far turn into the homestretch, jockey Paul Delph called on The Message and the animal responded, blowing away the opposition to win by six lengths. Laura Lee in Flight flew in second, ahead of the Andrew Jagdeo combination of Fire Power and Matterazi as they rounded out the money.
The G class event saw an intense battle by the contesting animals in one of the closest events of the day. In the end it was Finishing Touch of the Mahendra Singh stable, ridden by Kumar Singh, which once again showed that it is a good finisher in any conditions, plowing through to take pole position ahead of Alphabet of the Elcock Stable and Vanessa of the Crawford stable, with Mystic placing fourth. The win was worth $100,000.
Funny Sided mounted by Paul Delph of the Gray stables showed that there is nothing funny running in such conditions, powering away with the J class event to take the $70,000 first prize ahead of Foolish Pleasure, Sunday Star and Indian Boy.
Sunday Star guided by Paul Delph of The Farinha stable choose to shine on a rainy day to make it two wins for that entity, as it ran away with the $60,000 first prize in the K and L class event ahead of Custom Warrior, Indian Boy and Ruffian.
The final event, which was run in semi darkness, saw Star Streak of the Dipnarine stable, with Jockey Prem Chandra in the saddle, navigating its path nicely to squeeze out a hard fought victory to take home the $80,000 first prize ahead Casino Royale and Funny Sided, as Miami Vice found the course too slippery and ended fourth.
Paul Delph riding out of the Elcock stable was later adjudged champion Jockey, with Kumar Singh the runner up. They all received trophies, compliments of Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall of Bourda Market.
The next race meet is set for Sunday at the Norman Singh Memorial Turf Club, while the Port Mourant Turf Club will have their meet on August 2.

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