Mathie's 'Big Brown' captures URTA feature

The American-bred colt, BIGBROWNGREYHOPE, made amends for his dismal run in the Royal Dad Trophy on October 25 with a narrow victory over old rivals LOCKED AND LOADED and SPARKLING MICHAELA in the United Racehorse Trainers' Association (URTA) Trophy race over 1820 metres at Caymanas Park

yesterday.

Offering odds of 3-1 with Robert Halledeen aboard, the 4-y-o grey colt, a son of the American Derby winner Big Brown out of Hopes And Fears, raced prominently in fourth as the 3-2 favourite SPARKLING MICHAELA made most ahead of 5-2 chance LOCKED AND LOADED and MANDEYA (15-1) at the halfway stage.

LOCKED AND LOADED came through to lead approaching the final bend and, although looking the likely winner when two lengths clear of SPARKLING MICHAELA a furlong out, was gobbled up by the fast-finishing BIGBROWNGREYHOPE in the closing stages.

'BIG BROWN', who had previously notched his maiden win over this trip on September 13 before flopping as the evens favourite behind the disqualified winner SPARKLING MICHAELA and LOCKED AND LOADED in the Royal Dad, is owned by Distl Associates and trained by Rowan Mathie, who posted two winners on the card.

Meanwhile, champion jockey Dane Nelson followed up his four-timer on Wednesday with a double yesterday to move six clear of arch-rival Dick Cardenas (who was winless) in the jockeys' championship.

Nelson, seeking a third consecutive title, won aboard the Neville Peralto-trained DANOS LA PAZ (2-1), who ran on strongly in the second race to beat Cardenas' mount GLORIOUS CAUSE (8-1) in a driving finish, and followed up with an easy win aboard 5-2 favourite SAINT MARY for trainer Ryan Darby in the fourth race over 1700 metres. He leads the standings with 96 winners - six ahead of Cardenas.