Harding lands four, sights Jamaica title

TRINIDADIAN jockey Brian Harding has virtually clinched his first riding title outside his native country when he landed four winners on yesterday’s ten-race programme at Caymanas Park, Jamaica. Harding lengthened his lead over defending Jamaican champion Trevor Simpson who managed only one win. The four victories pushed Harding, the seven-time Trinidad and Tobago top jockey to 104 eight more then Simpson whose tally for the season now stands at 96 Harding’s four winners were Velocity, Ring Of Fire, Libertador and Jetlyn’s Drama. Simpson’s only winner was astride Razzak, a one-length winner of the fifth race over 1300 metres for three-year-old and over claimers.

The Trinidadian took the day’s opener when Velocity cruised to a 5 1/4 lengths victory in the Restricted Allowance 1200 metres race for four-year-olds and up. And after a fourth place finish astride Restoria’s Secret in the second, he was again visiting winners’ enclosure in the third when he landed Ring Of Fire a two-length winner of a two-year-old maiden race over 1000 metres. Harding achieved the hat-trick when Libertador ran away with the 1600 metres race for three-year-old maidens with Simpson finishing second on Royal Kingdom. After watching Simpson land Razzak in the fifth race, a 1300 metres race for three-year-olds claiming and finishing third on Tigerinthe-woods, Harding was second by 2 3/4 lengths astride La Reina in the three-year-olds and up Allowance over 1500 metres.

But he was back in winners’ row again in the eighth race of the day when he booted home Jetlyn’s Drama a one-length winner of a three-year-old and up claiming race over 1300 metres. He could only finish fifth astride Querida in the feature Royal Quest Trophy over 1200 metres, a race won by Hafifa ridden by Wesley Henry. And despite having no ride in the day’s final event a 1000 metres race for four-year-olds and up, Harding watched Simpson trail in second astride Perfect Score, 2 1/4 lengths back of the winner. Now with only two racing days on the Caymanas Park calendar it appears Harding has the title sewn up. Current standings between the top two: 1. Harding 104; 2. Simpson 96.