Coleman’s Rock upsets, as DaCosta/Ellis tandem shines
CHAMPION trainer Wayne DaCosta and jockey Shane Ellis continue to set the early fractions by sharing five winners of the 10-race card on the second day of the new racing season at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Following up on the three winners they posted together on New Year’s Day with Ellis riding another for Richard Azan in his our-timer, they shared another two winners in Skittle Queen, the 1-4 favourite in the first race, and the 4-5 favourite Soca Party in the eighth.
Ellis closed off his triple by booting home The Guv, another 4-5 favourite in the seventh race for trainer Spencer Chung, to take his tally to seven wins to be the leading rider, while trainer DaCosta took his tally to five to set the stage for another enthralling season.
Meanwhile, the combination had a strong hand in the $715,000 Overnight Allowance event which highlighted the card in the absence of a sponsored race, but could only manage fourth with The Real Stream, as the 7-1 chance Coleman’s Rock upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the event in a driving finish by three parts of a length.
Ridden by the ebullient claiming apprentice Aaron Chatrie, Coleman’s Rock, as he likes it, came with a terrific late run though seemingly with no place to turn to split horses inside the final 50 metres. However, he scored the narrow win by beating his former stablemate The Chief, the 1-2 favourite partnered by Dick Cardenas.
Conditioned by Joseph Thomas, Coleman’s Rock, who is no stranger to this level of competition, ran 1,200 metres in 1:12.2 minutes in the 11-horse field for three-year-olds and upward Overnight Allowance to open his four-year-old career on a winning account.
First Time Lucky, who did most of the early running, was relegated to third spot at odds of 11-1 ridden by Paul Francis with The Real Stream completing the frame as a 5-1 bet.
Owned by Ivan Rowe, Coleman’s Rock, a chestnut gelding by Law Of The Sea out of Tech All (Technology) was bred by Jack Delisser and Laurence Heffes. He earned $390,400 as the winner’s share for earnings of $1,674,800 lifetime.