Nelson twirls three-timer

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

TITLE-CHASING jockey Dane Nelson returned from a two-day suspension to boot home three winners at Caymanas Park yesterday, moving up to second in the standings.

His winners were 4-5 favourite QUICKSTER for owner/trainer Gary Griffiths in the second race over the straight five course, 6-1 chance DIAMOND EXPRESS for in-form trainer Anthony Ferguson in the fifth over 1500 metres and the Richie Phillipps-trained GALLAVANTER at 3-1 in the seventh race over the circular nine course.

Increased tally

Nelson thus increased his season's tally to 42: nine adrift of champion jockey Omar Walker. Walker claimed the last double, comprising 3-4 favourite EXPLOSIVE PEAK for trainer Peter McMaster in the 10th over the straight for open allowance horse, and 8-5 favourite LITTLEREDCORVETTE in Division II of the Clifford Stewart Memorial Cup feature (claiming $220,000-$190,000) over 1200m contested by 12 starters.

Walker, who will no longer be eligible for his 2kg apprentice allowance after Saturday, had a frustrating wait for his 50th winner and when it came in the 10th race, he had to pull out all the stops aboard EXPLOSIVE PEAK.

Owned by Miss Suckie, the consistent American six-year-old mare was early in the lead on the stands' side, but in the end Walker had to dig deep in order to repel a strong challenge from the 3-1 second favourite CRUCIAL POINT (angling across), who actually pointed midway through the last furlong with Dal Brown astride.

Blanket finish

But Walker was able to rally his mount to win by a short head in a blanket finish also involving the 6-1 chance NASATOL.

LITTLEREDCORVETTE, from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCoata, circled the leader PRODIGAL SON (74-1) entering the straight in the closing race to win by four lengths from SONNY 'B' GOOD (3-1) in a field of 12.

Division I of the Clifford Stewart Memorial Cup resulted in a mild upset, the 8-1 chance VENOM storming through under jockey Larris Allen from early in the last furlong to win by 2 1/2 lengths from the 99-1 outsider SIMPLE SWEET, closing from last position.

Major upset

VENOM, the first winner for Allen since completing a six-month suspension last Wednesday, is owned by Michael Russell and trained by Joseph Thomas. The day's major upset was provided by QUEEN ELIZA at odds of 56-1 in the eighth race over 1200 metres.

The four-year-old filly from the stables of Phillip Elliott made all and held on grimly by a neck from 6-1 shot WHILELMINA.

QUEEN ELIZA was ridden by the sparingly-used Kerry-Gaye Robinson who beat none other than his cousin, Omar Walker (lost his whip) aboard WHILELMINA in a driving finish, then had to survive a stewards' inquiry.