Tit-for-tat between Dane Nelson, Omar Walker
It was a case of one for you, one for me, after both Dane Nelson and Omar Walker failed to ride a winner on Saturday, but the two rebounded to inject even more fervour in the jockeys’ champion with a trading of winners yesterday at Caymanas Park.
The 11-race mid-week card started with Nelson one win ahead of Walker. Nelson won the first race with I’ve Been Chozen, to move two wins ahead. Walker replied in fine style winning aboard ranked outsider Concrete Jungle and Stop A Gap in the fifth race. The two combatants were now equal. Nelson moved one ahead with a win on I’m A Believer before Walker easily took the honours with Beast. So it is all-square in the championship again, going into Saturday’s racing.
In the day’s feature race, The Royal Lancaster Trophy for two year olds over 1,000 metres round, the Ian Lodge owned Dagga Dagga Links upset rivals to land another big race victory for trainer Andrew McDonald.
Ridden by Prince ‘Daggerman’ Holder, Dagga Dagga Links was neglected in the betting going off at odds of 8-1, sat comfortably behind the leaders in third position, passing the 800-metre mark, before pulling away in the straight and although shortening at bit, held on to win by 1 3/4 lengths over the fast-finishing 2-5 favourite Rocketman (Richard Mairs) with Butler Cabin (Shane Ellis) third.
Dagga Dagga Links is a dark bay two-year-old colt by Seeking The Glory out of Golden Compass by Pat ‘N’ Jac.
Jockey Percy Williams reached a personal milestone when he piloted chance ride Legendary Pleasure to win the third race, to record his 600th career win.