REGAL SELECTION (Shane Ellis) winning yesterday's CTL Fan Appreciation Day Trophy feature at Caymanas Park by four and a quarter lengths. The four-year colt, trained by Morris Powell and owned by Houston Stables, covered the 2200 metres distance in 2:20.3. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
THE GUARDIAN outbattled FLAGAMAN to win the 1300-metre New Year's Day Trophy and REGAL SELECTION confirmed he was ready for open allowance by romping home unchallenged in the 2200-metre CTL Fan Appreciation Day Trophy as a new season of racing kicked off at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Jockey Paul Francis also started the year with a bang, winning four races to signal his intentions for 2009.
Francis opened the nine racecard by landing back-to-back races - Fernando Geddes' HINDU KUSH in the 1200-metre McKay Security Sprint, and DESIGNED FOR LUCK for trainer Ryan Darby in the second event at 1500 metres.
He returned to complete a double for Darby and owner Raphael Gordon, booting home SPANISH TOWN in the seventh at 1300 metres and closed the card with MEDICAL ACCOUNT in the 1820-metre McKay Security Trophy.
Winner on the card
THE GUARDIAN, a 7-5 favourite, was the only winner on the card for the returning champion pair of jockey Omar Walker and trainer Wayne DaCosta.
A disqualified winner on December 6, Walker stayed out of trouble aboard the four-year-old gelding, biding his time in fourth down the backstretch while FLAGAMAN led HOMBRE and RANKING approaching the home turn.
With the leaders stepping a bit off the rail into the lane, Walker quickly switched THE GUARDIAN inside and was challenging FLAGAMAN in a flash at the two-pole.
DaCosta's runner took charge quickly and raced clear of FLAGAMAN with Shane Ellis to win by a length and three-quarter in a fast time of 1:18.3, appearing a bit scratchy as he was pulled up quickly after passing the winning post.
Brushed aside company
REGAL SELECTION, sent off as the 6-5 favourite after a smashing seven-length victory over a mile on December 17, brushed aside overnight allowance company in the CTL Fan Appreciation 11-furlong marathon.
Stalking the pace from fifth down the backstretch with Shane Ellis, REGAL SELECTION started his run leaving the three-pole, attacking 8-5 second favourite LIKKLE BIT before sweeping by off the home turn. The Morris Powell-trained colt opened up under Ellis and won easily at the end by four and a quarter lengths.
The Pick-9, which started the day at $5.6m, was finally caught, two winning tickets worth a little over $4m each.
Francis was clearly the star of the afternoon, winning almost half the day's races, having to work hard for his four victories,
Aboard HINDU KUSH, who was winning his fourth straight race on a $180,000 claiming tag, Francis tackled the 3-5 favourite FIRE D TRAINER with Walker from the half-mile and the pair engaged in a duel into the lane.
Running against the rail, HINDU KUSH found extra a furlong out to pull away from FIRE D TRAINER.
With DESIGNED FOR LUCK, Francis attacked three-wide off the turn, taking on WHEELS OF LAW and HARMONICS, getting up in the final hop to head off HARMONICS at the wire.
SPANISH TOWN was also another close win for Francis, getting home by a neck in a four-way battle, staving off STRONG DELIVERY and stablemate LATIN KING at the wire with long-time leader MELINDAGATA running out of steam shades from home.
MEDICAL ACCOUNT turned back MAMBO inside the final half-furlong to win by a length after tracking and going by THUNDER CLAP a furlong and a half out.