Veteran jockey misses triple through disqualification

FORT ERIE, Canada (CMC): GUYANA-BORN JOCKEY Sunny Singh missed out on a triple through disqualification but still managed to steal the headlines at historic Fort Erie.

Riding on Sunday’s six-race card, the veteran reinsman captured race two with favourite Tres Bien before returning to win race six with another favourite Dexter Road.

Singh thought that he had won a third after he carried 3-1 chance Skippy is Back to the wire to beat Bangla Dancer by a neck in a five-furlong sprint in race three.

However, Jamaican Kirk Johnson, the rider of Bangla Dancer, lodged an objection against Skippy is Back for interference during the stretch duel, which was upheld by stewards.

The decision also saw Johnson end with a brace when he later won race five with favourite Courtisinsession.

Singh, third last year in the championship behind winner Johnson, opened his account over six furlongs when he made all the running with four-year-old filly Tres Bien to beat the three-year-old and upward maiden fillies and mares by three-quarters of a length.

Tres Bien was broken sharply, led into the turn, and held well despite coming under pressure from Bella Loca, ridden by Barbadian jockey Juan Crawford.

Singh then had to wait until the day’s final race to lodge his second success, this time guiding four-year-old gelding Dexter Road to a handsome four-length trouncing of the three-year-old and upwards.

Going a mile and sixteenth, the pair raced off the pace before coming into contention on the far turn and having the better of the stretch run.