He's Really OK lands Lotto

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

HE'S REALLY OK, running at odds of 6-1 with title-chasing jockey Paul 'Country' Francis aboard, entered the Derby picture with a bang at Caymanas Park yesterday, following his decisive victory in the $2.7-million Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) for native-bred three-year-olds over 2000 metres.

Owned and bred by Patrick Smellie, the roan gelding by He'stherealthing out of OK Mom, stayed on strongly after turning for home in front, thwarting a challenge on the inside from the lightly raced JAYLEN (8-1) a furlong out to beat him by 2 1/4L. Big disappointment was the performance of the even-money favourite POSEIDON with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths riding for trainer Dwight Chen. The big chestnut gelding disputed the lead with HE'S REALLY OK and the filly PATARA (5-1) for a long way before dropping away from the final bend to finish 11L sixth.

Passing the stands for the first time HE'S REALLY OK was handily placed on the outside as the lightly weighted filly PATARA led narrowly from top weight NAVAL COMMANDER and POSEIDON close up.

But HE'S REALLY OK was soon ridden to join the leaders PATARA and POSEIDON as they turned in the backstretch and soon went through at the half mile, thwarting a feeble challenge from JAYLEN under in-form rider Richard 'Bya' Mitchell a furlong out to win going away.

Late headway

THE RED SKULL (29-1) made late headway under champion jockey Omar Walker to finish a farther 1 1/2 length third with PATARA fourth.

HE'S REALLY OK provided trainer Fredrick Watson with his first major success since obtaining a licence in June 2007, while this was the third big race win for Smellie, following the success of OK DON in the 1998 Toyota Cup and 2000 Guineas the following year.

Watson said he was quietly confident that HE'S REALLY OK would prove equal to the task, seeing that he was favoured by the handicaps (53.0kg) and truly enjoys a distance of ground. "I expected him to go through approaching the half mile and the jockey rode him to perfection," said Watson.

"He was also fitted with the figure eight for this race and he not only made amends for his near miss against Naval Commander recently, but has placed himself squarely in the Derby picture with this performance," added the trainer.

OUTSTANDING

Meanwhile, the crack sprinter OUTSTANDING (3-4 favourite) made all convincingly under title-chasing jockey Dane Nelson to win the $1.25-million Lotto Sprint Trophy by a length from the fast-finishing stable-companions THE GUARDIAN and AHWHOFAH in a field of eight grade one horses.

One of two winners for Nelson on the Lotto Day 11-race programme, OUTSTANDING is owned by Khadene Saunders and trained by Gresford Smith. Nelson has rejoined Walker at the top of the jockeys' standing with 47 winners.