Harding blanked again, Henry takes lead

And that winner saw him take the lead in the race for the jockeys title from Trinidad and Tobago-born Brian Harding.

Both riders began Saturday’s programme on 50 winners each, now Henry has inched ahead by one with his 51st winning ride.

Ex-champion jockey Trevor Simpson also had one winning mount on Saturday, Richie Mitchell and Paul “Country” Francis rode two winners each. But apprentice Oral Bennett took centre stage landing his first career winner with 23-1 outsider Alpha Lupa who got up at the death to upset her field in the inaugural running of the J$650,000 Worldphone Cup over 1400 metres.

Bennett, 25, who only began riding on July 29 came with a resolute stretch run on the grey American-bred four-year-old and drove the filly which is

trained by Anthony ‘Baba’ Nunes and owned by his wife Tara, to the wire. The winner was outpaced early on the 15- horse field with 27-1 Tassy’s Whip setting a merry gallop followed by Precocious Miss D.

Alpha Lupa began her run as the field hit the final bend with Precocious Miss D, favourite Digi N’ Jiggy with Charles Hussey up and Chosen One who had Trevor Simpson in the irons at the head of the business.

The favourite looked a winner a furlong out as he swept past a fading Precocious Miss D. Chosen One and Alpha Lupa closed rapidly, however, and with about 50 metres to go it was Alpha Lupa who inched ahead and went on to win by 3/4 length, with Digi N’ Jiggy next..

Digi N’ Jiggy was placed second after a stewards inquiry, and Passa Passa who was fourth got third.

Chosen One was disqualified for causing interference to Banjuhar at the start of the race and placed seventh.

Harding’s mount Estoy Listo could only finish 11th in the event.Current jockeys standings: 1. Wesley Henry 51; 2. Brian Harding 50; 3. Trevor Simpson 46; 4. Charles Hussey 45; 5. Paul Francis 30; 6. Dane Nelson 26.