INOAJ (Shane Ellis) romps the round five Stewards' Cup feature for two-year-old colts and geldings at Caymanas Park yesterday. The Image Maker colt won at odds of 7-1.
Storming through from off the pace in mid-stretch, INOJA romped to victory in the round five Stewards' Cup for maiden two-year-old colts at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Offering the generous odds of 7-1, INOJA, ridden by former champion jockey Shane Ellis for last year's Derby-winning trainer Fitznahum Williams, won by five lengths from 99-1 outsider THE ONE who stormed through from nowhere to snatch second in a bang-up for the minor placings with MUMBAI MAESTRO (11-1) and the 3-5 favourite DOUBLE CENTURY.
DOUBLE CENTURY, drawn on the outside of the eight-horse field, was slowly into stride on this his debut, as ROYAL NAVY led early. But DOUBLE CENTURY coupled up quickly on the outside to sweep into the lead leaving the half mile.
He seemingly had the race at his mercy when three lengths clear leaving the quarter pole, but shortened rapidly approaching the distance and INOJA, who was held off the early pace, moved in for the kill. He swept through on the wide outside early in the last furlong for a facile victory on this his second outing, as DOUBLE CENTURY faded rapidly into into fourth.
INOJA is a dark bay colt by Image Maker out of the Al's River Cat mare Jetstream. He is owned by Libra Stables and bred by the Orange Valley Estates Limited. Ellis, who notched a three-timer last Wednesday, had a second winner on the card in the Ryan Derby-trained grey horse CIRCLE DROME in the sixth race (high claming) over 1200 metres.
quickened up nicely
Running at odds of 9-1, CIRCLE DROME quickened up nicely early in the last furlong to catch tearaway leader FOREVER MINE (2-1). The latter turned for home clear of rivals in the 10-strong field, but proved no match for the winner.
Also riding two winners was title-chasing jockey Paul 'Country' Francis. These were STOCK MARKET at 9-1 for trainer Tensang Chung in the fourth race for maiden three-year-olds and the Robert Derby-trained REGGAE ROCK who made most in the eighth race over 1400 metres for three-year-olds and up.
Francis pushed his season's tally to 74-14 adrift of champion jockey Omar Walker who sat out the final day of a two-day suspension.
On a tough day for form players, the Fitzroy Glispie-trained 3-y-o gelding SPACE FURY, with promising apprentice Richard Mairs aboard, turned the ninth race over 1820 metres into a procession, winning at odds of 5-1. Another apprentice, Fabion Jones, who started riding earlier this month, notched his first career win aboard the favourite OUR DEELITE in the opening race over 1100 metres.