Mom's Student romps Ja Oaks

Trainer Fitzroy Glispie once again underlined his prowess with fillies, posting the front-running MOM'S STUDENT to an emphatic victory in the 76th running of the McKay Security/B3 Development Group Jamaica Oaks over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Running at odds of 8-1 with Richard Mairs aboard, MOM'S STUDENT, who was second to the previously unbeaten PUDDY POOH in the recent 1000 Guineas, not only turned the tables on her recent conqueror over the longer distance of the Oaks, but provided Glispie with his second consecutive winner of the race following RAEVEN RENAE a year ago.

MOM'S STUDENT made all. She was chased relentlessly by the howling 1-2 favourite PUDDY POOH with Omar Walker aboard, but found another gear after turning for home three lengths clear to win by 41/2 lengths from the late-closing BERRANCA, with Shane Ellis riding for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes.

The Wayne DaCosta-trained GRANVILLE GRETA at odds of 49-1 ran above herself for third, another 33/4 lengths away, while PUDDY POOH was beaten for the first time in four starts in finishing fourth.

A chestnut filly by Region Of Merit out of The Principal, MOM'S STUDENT is owned by Clinton Rhoden and bred by Orange Valley Estates Limited. This was her third win from seven starts, with total stakes of $3.2 million.

Glipsie, who had also previously saddled 99-1 outsider SHE'S TRADITIONAL to win the 1000 Guineas in 2012, said he was delighted to win yet another fillies classic, but this time it took some amount of strategic planning to topple PUDDY POOH. He explains:

PACEWORK

"I programmed her differently this time, putting her through a lot of pace work rather than speed work. I knew she had the speed to lead comfortably, so I instructed the jockey to slow it down (when) approaching the half mile and gradually pick up the pace when Puddy Pooh threatened approaching the final bend," said Glispie, who teamed up with Mairs for a second winner on the card in 5-2 chance WHITE MARL.

On a day when jockey Paul Francis rode three winners, the unbeaten 3-y-o colt SOUTHERN CRUISE with champion jockey Dane Nelson riding for Nunes romped the 1820-metre race in the good time of 1:57.3 and is on course for the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) on May 23. SOUTHERN CRUISE is bred by MP Karl Samuda.