Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

DISTINCTLY IRISH cemented his claim for 'Horse of the Year' honours at Caymanas Park yesterday when storming home in the 36th running of the $1.25 million Gold Cup graded stakes feature over 1400 metres, this under the crushing impost of 60.5kg.

Installed as a 5-2 second favourite with customary rider, leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths on board for 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny, the 2004 Derby winner and 'Horse of the Year' overcame a slow start (outpaced) in a star-studded field of 11 to catch and beat this year's Derby winner, THE BOMBER (4-1), under in-form Dane Nelson, by three-quarter length.

Finishing third, another three part of a length adrift, was the recent MegaFone Caribbean Sprint cham-pion MUSICAL MAESTRO, who was sent off the 2-1 favourite under title-chasing jockey Trevor Simpson by virtue of having won four consecutive races.

Fourth was the lightly-weighted filly LA REINA (10-1), who prompted the pace for a long way before fading up the lane.

Unassailable lead

Significantly, DISTINCTLY IRISH and the Dwight Chen-trained MUSICAL MAESTRO both raced in the familiar maroon and gold silks of champion owner Howard Hamilton ($10.3 million) who, as a result of this victory, has opened up what could well be an unassailable lead over closest rival Elias Haloute ($8.9 million) in the owners' championship with six race days remaining in 2007.

DISTINCTLY IRISH was slowly away from the number two post position in the CTL Gold Cup as the November 10 Megafone Superstakes winner MAJOR MAYER (5-1) led narrowly from LA REINA, closely followed by THE BOMBER, who was sent through approaching the home turn and actually left the furlong pole two lengths clear of LA REINA.

Bu looking all over the winner at this stage, THE BOMBER was gobbled up by DISTINCTLY IRISH, who dropped out of the sky, so to speak, with a terrific burst of speed on the wide outside, to lead close to home.

Bred by Ken Gooden, the six-year-old bay gelding by Irish Quest out of the 1990 Guineas and Derby winner Distinctly Native, chalked up his fifth win from nine starts this season and his 18th from 33 career starts with lifetime earnings of $16.9 million.

"Although well prepared for the recent Superstakes, he ran the worst race of his life that day," admitted Feanny. "But I'm happy that he has put that behind him.

"He may run again in the Harry Jackson on Boxing Day, but that's up to the owner," he said.

When asked if he thought DISTINCTLY IRISH would now be voted 'Horse of the Year', Feanny declared: "Who else e you going give it to?"

Meanwhile, leading jockey Omar Walker, fresh from a two-day suspension, highlighted the 12-race programme with four winners to move to 85 - a clear 14 points ahead of Trevor Simpson, who rode only one winner in 4-5 favourite PRINCE TERRON.

Walker starts another two-day suspension for careless riding on Wednesday.