Miniature Man snatches Yvonne Mattis Cup feature
MINIATURE Man comfortably won the maiden running of the $1.14-million Yvonne Mattis Cup feature race at Caymanas Park on Saturday, thanks to a well-executed ride from jockey Abigail Able.
Installed as the even-money favourite in the Overnight Allowance contest for threeyear-olds and upward over nine furlongs (1,800m), Miniature Man
was a comfortable three-length winner at the wire in a time of 1:54.3 (25.0 x 49.3 x 1:14.3 x 1:40.0).
Miniature Man took the lead early in the race, battling Big Big Daddy (Dane Dawkins) and
Stomp The Rhythm (Anthony Thomas). Able took Miniature
Man off the pace a bit leaving the seven-furlong (1,400m) intersection, and watched as D Head Cornerstone (Paul Francis) blazed the way ahead of Big Big Daddy, Daddy Jones (Youville Pinnock), and Stomp The Rhythm down the backstretch.
Able waited patiently before sending Miniature Man to the lead at the half mile (800m), and from there the five-year-old chestnut gelding was never hindered on his way to his first win of the year in five starts. Stomp The Rhythm came in second, with Marquesas (Jerome Innis) securing third place.
Ryan Darby was the most successful trainer on the day after saddling three winners on the 11-race card, while Paul Francis was the most successful jockey with two winners.
After the winner Duke of Springs
was disqualified, Darby’s Master of Hall (Jemar Jackson) was awarded first place in the third race. Darby’s other winners were Money Market
(Francis) in the sixth race and Brompton Alex (Oneil Mullings) in the seventh race.
In addition to Money Market,
Francis won the eighth race for trainer Anthony Nunes with Volatility. In the first race Nunes saddled Leading Lad (Matthew Bennett) for a double.
Racing resumes next Saturday.