Fri | Mar 29, 2024

My Sister upsets Mr Universe

Published:Monday | October 14, 2019 | 12:29 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer

MY SISTER stormed home from sixth position at the top of the lane to collar 1-5 favourite MR UNIVERSE a half-furlong out, winning Saturday’s Vassell Najair Memorial by a length and three-quarter at odds of 8-1.

Scorching splits, an opening quarter of 22.4, heading into 45.4 for the first half-mile, MR UNIVERSE taking over from POLLY B three furlongs out, had second-favourite LEGALITY and LADY BLUE pushing to keep pace in the six-furlong event.

Returning with topweight 126lb for his second race in seven days following similar splits in last Saturday’s Caribbean Sprint, MR UNIVERSE reported sporting bandages and was surprisingly led by POLLY B.

Although he took over three furlongs out, the two-time Caribbean Sprint runner-up never looked comfortable and, after quickening away from LEGALITY, became a standing target for MY SISTER, who started her winning charge a furlong out.

Ridden out by Dane Dawkins, the roan filly ran past MR UNIVERSE to clock 1:11.4, bettering ANOTHER BULLET’s 1:12.2 in last week’s Caribbean Sprint.

MY SISTER’s victory, for trainer Gary Subratie and owner Michael Bernard, defeating Carlton Watson’s MR UNIVERSE, kept the owner’s championship battle a ding-dong affair.

Watson’s LADY BLUE stayed on for third behind his stablemate, MR UNIVERSE, as both owners picked up minor placings on the 12-race card. Bernard’s DUKE had finished second in the eighth race won by Wayne DaCosta’s ROJORN DI PILOT.

Watson, who started the day on $16,726,750 in stakes, $11,900 ahead of Bernard, had earlier won the fifth event with DaCosta-trained 1-5 favourite AMERICAN INVADER before MY SISTER kicked MR UNIVERSE’s pot off the fire in the feature.

A quartet of jockeys rode two winners – Omar Walker, and Shane Ellis, along with apprentices Roger Hewitt and Raddesh Roman – who struck with 42-1 shot EL GRINGO, making all the running to close the card at seven and a half furlongs.

Racing continues this Saturday.