Jamaica jockey king Harding a proud man

Harding landed 107 winners at Caymanas Park, Jamaica, to snatch the title from Jamaican Trevor Simpson (100). In winning the Jamaican title, Harding became the first non-Jamaican to do so since Panamanian Jose Bravo in 1970. And yesterday, the 42-year-old rider said, "I can’t express the feeling (to win the championship)."

He said, "It felt really good to be part of history, and to cross 100 (winners) is like a cricketer making a century."

Harding who returned home on Sunday booted home two winners — Sunset and Fresh Wings — and was second twice and once fourth in six rides on the First Citizens 10-race programme. Meanwhile, owner Mr Pius said yesterday, turfites will not see two-year-old prince All For Java in action again until March, when the gelded son of Java In Flight/Set All will line-up in the Flamingo Stakes and attempt to make it seven wins from seven starts. The Shaffique Khan-trained Java In Flight has raced unbeaten to date, and only on Monday won the 1100 metres First Citizens First Classic Trophy, his first start as a three-year-old, without being asked a serious question by Venezuelan jockey Wilmer Galviz, current national champion rider. Trainer Grant Lourenco was bubbling with pride at having saddled Twice Infallible to a repeat victory in the 100 metres feature First Citizens Sian’s Gold Sprint.

He said his charge had a lay-off of eight-and-a-half months during which the Junior Sammy five-year-old son of AP Jet/MS DD Walton was operated on by veterinarian Dr Roger d’Abadie to remove two bone chips from his left lead knee. Lourenco said, "It is good to have owners like Junior Sammy, who urged him to take all the time and patience" needed with the horse. He also said there is no decision to retire his stable star and two-time Horse of the Year Sugar Mike.