HONEY BUNNY, running as the 2-1 second favourite under five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson, romped home by five lengths in the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers' Association Trophy over 1200 metres, the feature event at Caymanas Park yesterday.
The Trainers' Association Day 10-race programme, also featuring the Earl Adams Trophy for maiden three-year-olds over the straight, saw five trainers being honoured by the association for more than 20 years of service to the racing industry.
The five honoured were Charles Morrissey, Peter McMaster, Welsh Soutar, Everal Francis and Gresford Smith, a former president of the association.
All were presented with commemorative trophies by Trainers' Association president Vin Edwards inside the winners' enclosure late in the afternoon. Also present were executive members of the JRTA along with Randall Sott, newly-appointed general manager and acting CEO of Caymanas Track Limited.
In the Trainers' Association Trophy (three-year-olds non-winners of two), HONEY BUNNY, who was developing a reputation as a bridesmaid, disputed the lead with even-money favourite DOLLA WIN coming from the number one post position with champion jockey Omar Walker aboard.
She went through at the halfway stage and after turning for home two lengths clear of DOLLA WIN and KIKO (5-1) jointly in second, lengthened her strides under the right-hand stick for an emphatic win. Eleven ran.
KIKO, who was always prominent, kept on well for second, two lengths clear of the well-backed GIRLOFMYDREAMS (7-2) in third, as DOLLAR WIN weakened badly up the lane to finish a poor sixth (eased).
A three-year-old bay filly by Image Maker out of the 1993 Superstakes winner and 'Horse of the Year' Vestia, HONEY BUNNY, who was winning for only the second time from 15 starts, is owned by Tres Amigos and trained by 14-time champion Philip Feanny. Meanwhile, the 13-1 outsider CRAFTED GOLD, with sparingly-used jockey Errol Hitchman riding for trainer Frank Parham, outfinished the Walker-ridden HERETOETERNITY by three-quarters of a length to win the Earl Adams Memorial Trophy contested by 12 starters. This was only the fourth career win for Hitchman in more than 20 years of riding.
Dane Nelson, on the other hand, emerged the day's top rider with three winners in LATIN KING (9-2), 3-5 favourite MINISTER-OFJUSTICE, who equalled Musical Maestro's straight five track record of 56.1 in winning the fifth race, and BRITISH LA GENERAL at 3-1 in the seventh.
As a result, Nelson, who is second to champion jockey-designate Omar Walker in the standings, pushed his season's tally to 96 and says he is looking forward to his 100th winner by the end of the month.