Uncle Frank claims Owen Silvera Memorial

LEADING RIDER Anthony Thomas yesterday combined with champion trainer Wayne DaCosta to boot home three winners, his fifth in two days, pushing him to 55 for the season -19 clear of Shane Ellis atop the jockeys' standings. Thomas, who rode two winners on Saturday, lit up yesterday's 10-race meet with a three-timer including UNCLE FRANK in the Owen Silvera Memorial feature race at a mile.

One of three DaCosta runners in the five-horse field, UNCLE FRANK chased BIRDIE MY LOVE into the lane and afterwards outbattled his rail-running stablemate, RADICAL, in a stirring stretch duel from a furlong and a half out.

MARVELLOUS MARVA, the favourite, with Mellisa Ward astride, finished third under an indecisive ride from the female apprentice, who was forced to check the five-year-old mare in tight quarters turning for home and again when challenging a furlong out.

Set down on the outside after changing lanes, MARVELLOUS MARVA had too much to do and had to settle for third, denying Ward a second trophy win aboard the grey with whom she had won the Mark My Word Trophy on May 23.

Thomas, who had earlier won the first of his three races for DaCosta with DYSFUNCTIONAL, returned to close the jockey-trainer three-timer with WINTER IS COMING in the final race of the day.