Typewriter lands King’s Plate
Typewriter came from off the pace to win the $1,000,000 King’s Plate feature by a head at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Ridden by jockey Shane Ellis for trainer Spencer Chung, Typewriter looked a live threat leaving the 600 metres pole, but was, however, squeezed for space on the inside turning for home and had to be switched to the outside for a clear run by his rider. After that Typewriter began to leap forward with winning intent and caught up with the leading pack to hit the wire just ahead of the Winston Griffiths-ridden Reasonable Press, who also appeared to have suffered interference early in the stretch drive.
The winner is owned by Robert F Chung and WP Valentine Chung, the same connections of Saint Cecelia, who eight days ago created a new record of most consecutive wins of 13 races at Caymanas Park.
It was Typewriter’s second consecutive win among Open Allowance company for the season and he ran 1,500 metres in a time of 1:32.0 minutes.
A very pleased trainer, Chung let out a sigh of relief at the end. “Four across the board. That was close, but it is a nice way to win though. He was backed up in the inside after rounding the final quarter bend, but then the jockey turned him outside and that made a big difference, he is a free-running horse and he got up just in time. He carried the big weight very good today and showed that he is of worth. With the victory he will be going up to ‘A’ Class now where he will face the calibre of horses such as Mark My Word.”
Ellis said the he was going good until he left the 600 metres marker. “I was on the inside and the space got tight a bit I had to check a little bit and go on the outside. As soon as I got on the outside and set him down he responded to my urging and from 25 yards I knew I was going to get there.”
Rio Cobre, the surprise of the party who had never gone beyond 1,300 metres, and was well supported at odds of 15-1, and who led for a long way under Leo Miller, was there in the final shake-up to hit the wire third ahead of the 2-1 second favourite Timeforarms, who completed the frame under champion apprentice Shameree Muir in the field of 10.
Typewriter, a four-year-old bay gelding by Western Classic out of Doc’s Paladin (Boundary) bred by Ham Stables, recorded his seventh win from 10 career starts and earned $546,000 as the winner’s share for earnings amounting to the sum of $9,558,850 lifetime.
Meanwhile, three trainers Wayne DaCosta, Spencer Chung and Albert Chong saddled doubles on the 11-race card.
DaCosta saddled Rum Punch in the third race and St Bernard in the fifth for owners Elizabeth DaCosta & Laurence Heffes & Eric V Martin. Dick Cardenas was aboard Rum Punch, and Dane Nelson atop St Bernard.
In addition to saddling Typewriter in the feature, Chung also saddled Prince Oshaun for owners Oshuan Connection with both ridden by Ellis. Chong landed the biggest dividend for the day when he saddled the 89-1 shot Din’s Legacy in the fourth for owners Dee Gee Racing ridden by apprentice Romario Saunders and called curtains with Last Warrior for owner Jesu Rambaran under apprentice Ruja Lahoe.