Thrilling dead heat in Caymanas feature

ATLANTIC CONVOY and FURTHER AND BEYOND swallowed MAMMA MIA approaching the furlong pole, a two-pronged attack, which not even the photo-finish camera could separate at the wire of yesterday’s seven-furlong Allan ‘Billy’ Williams Memorial.

MAMMA MIA set off in front from post-position one, reminiscent of her brave Mouttet Mile effort in December. However, CAPTAIN CALICO, a Mouttet Mile undercard winner, pressed the 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner of last year, pouncing off the home turn.

Lucky to survive a stewards’ enquiry, MAMMA MIA, already angled by Robert Halledeen to keep CAPTAIN CALICO wide down the backstretch, drifted right and bumped her challenger as he negotiated the turn, knocking the colt off his axis, effectively ending his race.

Stealing home in a dead wind, MAMMA MIA was made to pay for her rider’s antics by the charging pair of Canada-bred ATLANTIC CONVOY along the rail and FURTHER AND BEYOND, sandwiched by the pair, who had watched the fray from third and fourth, respectively, down the backstretch.

Though battling bravely under a full drive from Halledeen, MAMMA MIA gave up the ghost a half-furlong out, surrendering between horses as ATLANTIC CONVOY and FURTHER AND BEYOND were ridden flat out to the wire.

At last bob, it appeared 7-1 chance ATLANTIC CONVOY had stuck his nose in front with leading rider Tevin Foster. However, FURTHER AND BEYOND, kept going by Christopher Mamdeen in his unorthodox riding style, hung tough at 8-1 to ensure the Canadian had to split the winner’s purse down the middle.

The pair flashed past the post in 1:26.4 in the overnight-allowance event, two-fifths slower than Jason DaCosta’s unbeaten American, FUNCAANDUN, who l anded the following event after overpowering and pulling away from fellow United States-bred, GEOLITHIC, making it two-from-two with Shamaree Muir aboard.

Foster took his weekend tally to three winners following Saturday’s two-timer, earlier booting home PREMIER IDENTITY in the fourth before closing the double for Howard Jaghai in the night pan aboard LADY RAMDULARIE.

Foster sits on 23 winners, five clear of Raddesh Roman, entering the new month of racing this Saturday.

Alford Brown also saddled two winners, NERISSA’S ANGEL i n the opening event and LORD OF AJAHLON in the third.

ANTHONY MINOTT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER DEAD HEAT: FURTHER AND BEYOND (Christopher Mamdeen) (inside) and ATLANTIC CONVOY (Tevin Foster) finish in a dramatic dead heat in the Allan E. Billy Williams Memorial Trophy over 7 1/2 furlongs at Caymanas Park yesterday.