Perfect Neighbour outstays rivals to land Harry Jackson Memorial Cup
In another impressive display of class, the Wayne DaCosta-conditioned Perfect Neighbour outstayed rivals to win the 53rd running of the $1.25 million Harry Jackson Memorial Cup co-feature at Caymanas Park yesterday.
With Orlando Foster replacing apprentice Linton Steadman in the saddle, Perfect Neighbour got a good break and raced into second position behind Typewriter, under champion jockey Dane Nelson, passing the stands for the first time and heading towards the club house turn.
As the six runners sorted themselves out, Perfect Neighbour picked up the lead approaching the 1,200-metre point, withTypewriter a neck on his outside.
He then maintained a steady gallop approaching the home turn, and when Foster asked him go, the five-year-old bark bay horse by
Natural Selection – Desperatehousewife responded well and powered home to win by two lengths in the Graded Stakes event over 2,400 metres.
Long Running Train, under Aaron Chatrie, who was prominent throughout the race, finished a strong second, six lengths in front of the two-time Horse of the Year Typewriter, while Hover Craft completed the frame.
Owned by Alfred Lee and Jeffery S Mordecai, Perfect Neighbour stopped the clock in a moderate 2:35.3 minutes behind splits of 25.3, 49.4, 1:15.2, 1:39.3, and 2:06.0 minutes to register his second victory in this Grade One event.
Foster was pleased with the run by Perfect Neighbour.
“He (Perfect Neighbour) has proved from time to time that he is the best journey horse in the land and just demonstrated that today (yesterday) and won quite easily. The race was not that difficult, as earlier at the 1,200-metre point I was able to go through to the lead, and that was that for the rest of the field as there was no catching me,” Foster told theJamaica Observer.
Perfect Niegbour has closed out the 2015 season with four wins, two second-place finishes, and three third-placed results from 11 starts with ernings of just over $5 million. With this latest victory, Perfect Neighbour has established himself as a strong contender for Horse of the Year honours.
