Road Wi Seh goes all the way
ROAD WI SEH, racing for the first time since his unplaced effort in the June 13 Jamaica Derby, returned with a bang to win yesterday’s Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) Trophy race over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park in post-to-post fashion.
Installed as a 5-2 second favourite with champion apprentice O’Brien White aboard, ROAD WI SEH, who changed stables since the derby, moving from trainer Patrick Chang to Lorne Kirlew, held on well by 1 3/4 lengths from the 34-1 outsider, SEEKING HOPE.
ROAD WI SEH was early in the lead from 90-1 outsider BRAVE PROSPECT and soon opened up approaching the half mile. He turned for home four lengths clear of SEEKING HOPE and ACTION MAN (7-1) and, although drifting out in the straight, kept on well to hold SEEKING HOPE at bay for his second win in six career starts.
Although getting him a month ago, Kirlew said he was confident of victory.
“I put in a lot of hard work to straighten him out,” he emphasised. “I had to rebuild him for this race and if you noticed how he drifted out approaching the furlong pole, there are still issues to be addressed, but I think he’ll go on from here,” added the second-generation trainer.
ACTION MAN, the mount of leading all-time jockey Winston ‘Fanna’ Griffiths, finished another five lengths third, while the 9-5 favourite TARANIS, under leading jockey Shane Ellis, was fourth. A three-yearold chestnut colt by Adore The Gold out of Dream Watcher, ROAD WI SEH is owned by Outa Road Racing Stables and bred by Ham Stables.
PROGRAMME A NIGHTMARE
With no favourite obliging in any of the 10 races, the programme proved a nightmare for form players. GOLDEN BULLET (4-1), ridden by Orlando Foster for trainer Anthony ‘Baba’ Nunes, outfinished his front running stable-companion and evenmoney favourite, BAGS OF GOLD, to win the day’s secondary feature for the Aston Commock Memorial Trophy over 1700 metres, while former champion Wesley Henry and title-chasing Robert Halledeen shared the riding honours with two winners each.