Lottery Ticket strikes in Easter Sprint Cup

LOTTERY TICKET produced a storming late run to rush past CARTEL a half-furlong out in yesterday's Easter Sprint Cup, scoring a one and three-quarter length win over DRAGLINE in the 1100-metre holiday feature.

Outsped as usual, LOTTERY TICKET was nowhere in the fray for the first five furlongs as the speedsters, TALENTED TONY K, PAPA ALBERT and POLLY B led CARTEL down the backstretch and into the lane.

Running along the rail, CARTEL swooped down on the leaders coming off the turn and shot to the front a furlong out. However, LOTTERY TICKET exploded from out of the chasing pack with champion jockey Omar Walker and quickly collared CARTEL, who had no answer for the consistent five-year-old mare.

LOTTERY TICKET won at odds of 5-2 for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta in a final time of 1:06.1, ahead of DRAGLINE, who further relegated CARTEL by a neck.

DaCosta and Walker were denied the last double with the disqualification of YAYA'S DREAM in the previous race, the beneficiary being trainer Steven Todd upon whom the racing gods smiled brightly in back-to-back events.

Todd's lucky run started in the eighth race when STORMING FLYER was awarded the event at odds of 2-1 on the disqualification of first-past-the-post SMOKESCREEN.

In the ninth, YAYA'S DREAM was disqualified for bumping into Todd's SHE'S A BANKER, who afterwards closed with a rush into second place at odds of 74-1.

After a lengthy enquiry, YAYA'S DREAM's number was taken down, much to the chagrin of punters, who argued that similar infringements were often overlooked.

Apprentice Dane Dawkins also had Lady Luck with him yesterday, winning aboard two chance rides after the designated rider, fellow apprentice Javaniel Patterson fell from REASSURANCE in the third event, following his victory aboard UNCLE WAL in the second.

Replacing Patterson in the fifth, Dawkins won by a nose astride MARIA'S GLORY and was later aboard SHE'S A BANKER for her dramatic victory in the stewards' room.

Dane Nelson continued his good form, booting home a double, REIGNING KING and URBAN PRINCIPAL, in the sixth and seventh races, respectively, to log seven wins in three racemeets.

Patrick Lynch joined Todd with two winners on the day, TRADITION in the fourth and URBAN PRINCIPAL.

Racing continues at Caymanas Park on Saturday.