Crawford Stable features as Miss Orientate takes main event

Feb 04, 2010 Sports

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The Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports facilities season opening one day horserace meet came off with a bang as the organisers hit the nail on its head and brought off an incident free event to start the new season on the right footing.
However if the meet was successfully run from the organisers point of view, many Turfites left the arena upset as upset was the order of the day with the biggest buster coming in the feature C class event.
The little known Miss Orientate of the Marcel Crawford stable blew away the field as it stormed off with the $300,000 first prize sponsored by Beverage giants Banks DIH Limited and the Gary Kennard Trophy in one of the closest finishes ever witnessed, edging Miss Republic of the Elcock stable.
The 1400m event, which incidentally was the distance for all of the races, was keenly contested. Miss Republic with Winston Apadoo on board did the early running as the horses enjoyed a clean break out of the box, followed by the rejuvenated Delmur Gold and Sweet Caramel with pre race favourite The Message and Miss Orientate in the chasing flock.
The lead changed hands a number of times as the three front runners tried to out do each other. As the animals entered the far turn Miss Republic was looking good in front as The Message ridden by Paul Delph began to make its move. However as the animals hit the homestretch for the sprint home it was Miss Orientate with champion Jockey Yap Drepaul in the saddles that took off like a shot from a gun as the racehorse started to power home. By the 50m mark it was a two horse race as Miss Orientate was coming hard on leader Miss Republic as the animals literally crossed the finish line together. The result was some time in coming as the crowd edged closer to the official quarters. How the judges decided on the winner without the aid of technology was anybody’s guess? The announcement of the result brought happiness for some and consternation for others. The Message came through for third ahead of stable mate Delmur Gold as the Elcock stable took 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. The win by Jockey Yap Drepaul was the third successive victory for the ever improving rider in the main C class race a feat which he accomplish on three different animals from three different stables. First Annie’s Play Mate, Sweet Carmel and then Miss Orientate event as the animals were considered outsiders.
The disappointment for the Elcock stable in the championship C class event turned to celebration for connections of the 2009 champion establishment. The horse Celebration Time, ridden by Paul Delph hardly broke a sweat as it ran away with the Co-feature Three year old race for horses Bred and Born in Guyana and the West Indies and never recorded a win. The animal back on the track after a lengthy lay off due to injury showed no signs of its absence as it dominated the race, winning by some six lengths to take the $200,000 winners money and the Just Water trophy. Mona Lisa, Infinity and Little Spike rounded out the top finishers.
The day’s activity started with a win for Fresh Prospect ridden by top Jockey Kumar Singh of the Jagdeo stable, coming from behind to win the E class race in a driving finish to beat off Night Crescendo of the Crawford stable with Kevin Paul on the mount in another fierce battle as Laura Lee in Flight flew in third ahead of Face the Music. The win was worth $200,000 and the Archway Snackette and Fiesta Fish Shop trophy.
Night Crescendo carried most of the race with Laura Lee in Flight and Face the Music all in early contention, the pattern continued until Fresh Prospect’s final burst.
Face the Music ridden by apprentice Jockey Mark Vassie of the Elcock stable faced up with what its competitors had to offer in the G class event as it returned to win in another close race from stable mate Pegasus Rising with Paul Delph in the saddles to capture the $150,000 first prize and the ABS Incorporated trophy. Horses from The Jagdeo stable occupied the other two spots with favourite Stylish Line and Fire Power coming in third and fourth.
Even though there was a clear winner in the ‘I’ class event which was won in convincing fashion by Prixie Fire of the Custom stable with Champion Jockey Yap Drepaul in the saddle, the event was the most controversial on the day’s card. The judges had a difficult time in deciding the 2nd to 4th place finishers as the animals came home in a tight finish. After some lengthy deliberations, reviews and discussion, they finally decided that Indian Flag, Casino Royal and Funny Sided were the other placers. The win was worth $100,000 and the Omai Transportation stakes and trophy.
Power master had too much in its legs winning the Unclassified Division I event and the $80,000 first prize and the Delmur Company Limited and Kenrick Auto sales stakes and trophy ahead of Bounty Flyer, Beyonce and Lenny O Halo.
There was also a win for Blessed Child in another line finish from Lenny O Halo, with Black Beauty coming in third in the unclassified Division 2&3 race, which saw the winner taking home $60,000 and the John Ali Air Conditioning trophy.
The top individual prizes on offer compliments of Ramesh Sunich of the trophy stall Bourda Market went to Jockey Yap Drepaul with Kumar Singh being his runner up while the Elcock stable ran away with the top stable accolade.
The track was in immaculate condition despite some rain fall as it lived up to its reputation as one of the best horseracing facilities in the country as all the events were completed incident free. Prize money totaling over $2.5M in cash and prizes were on offer with some 65 Horses took to the starting gates. The authorities of the facility must also be commended for keeping the crowd off the track as this has been a hindrance at most horserace meets. Quite a few of the events brought out photo finishes, an happening which has caught the GHRA flat footed as it showed that it is time that the authorities acquire cameras which will aid the judges in close finishes and infringements during the races.

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