CHAMPION jockey Dane Nelson tore off the rafters at Caymanas Park with an outstanding ride on 7-1 chance, Kal Kal, who came home in the dying stages of the day’s feature event, the Kenneth Mattis trophy, to beat Uncle Donny (Shane Ellis) and Hombre (Winston Griffiths).

Nelson lost his irons on Kal Kal just after the start of the race. He had a torrid time keeping the four-year-old bay filly to her work as Kal Kal kept wide in the 2,000-metre feature and was constantly dropping back in the field of 10.

Yet, somehow, Nelson kept on going, and when they entered the straight, strongly drove Kal Kal to a head victory, celebrating robustly with his hands after just pipping Shane Ellis ‘in the glass’. It was a fine display of riding by Nelson, who was greeted with rapturous applause by racing fans at the Park. It was also a chance ride for the champion jockey as designated rider Dick Cardenas could not take the assignment due to injury.

Gunning for 15 consecutive wins, reigning horse-of-the-year St Cecelia had her wings clipped, settling for second, for the first time in just over two years, as the Wayne DaCosta-trained Blast Them Away (Cardenas), in receipt of 16 lbs, persistently challenged in the straight, before blasting away for what turned out to be a comfortable three-and-a-half-length victory.

When starter Michael Simms pushed the button that sent them away, St Cecelia (Shane Ellis) raced in second position behind early leader Rio Cobre as Blast Them Away settled in third position. After passing the three-furlong marker, as is customary, St Cecelia made a significant move to take the lead, moving away from the pack by two to three lengths, to enter the straight in front, but with the winner getting closer and closer. In the homestretch, it was not a contest, as Blast Them Away got past easily before pulling away in a final time of 1:18.1 minutes for 1,300 metres. Third was Classy Prospect.

With his win yesterday, Blast Them Away, an imported four-year-old colt, now has career statistics of 12 wins and four second positions from 16 lifetime starts.

The Winnie Anglin Memorial Cup, the cup race on the day over 1,000 metres round for the juveniles, went in front-running style to first-time starter Queen Paula, bred, owned and trained by Lorenzo Robinson. Queen Paula was guided to victory by Winston Griffiths. All Correct (Dane Nelson — substituting for the injured Cardenas) was second, and Hija De Reina (Ellis), third.