The 2007 Guineas and St Leger winner RUM TALK made a triumphant return to Caymanas Park yesterday with a runaway victory in the season's first grade one distance race, the Legal Light Trophy over 1820 metres.

Returning from a near four-month respite in immaculate condition, RUM TALK, running as the 4-5 favourite with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths aboard, won by the resounding margin of 10 1/2 lengths in a field of six.

Failed in bid

He humbled the up-in-class REGAL SELECTION (5-2) who failed in his bid to win his fourth consecutive trophy race this season and his fifth straight race since December 17, while BLUE MAGIC (10-1), a stable-companion of RUM TALK, finished third.

Big disappointment was the performance of last year's Super-stakes winner AD INFINITUM who, though highly fancied at 5-2, finished a remote fourth with title-chasing jockey Dane Nelson in the saddle.

AD INFINITUM was narrowly beaten by RUM TALK when both last raced in the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup on Boxing Day.

Griffiths had RUM TALK well placed in third, as BLUE MAGIC led under pressure from the well-backed ENGLISH STORM.

Win by a block

He sent RUM TALK in chase of the leaders approaching the final bend and after coming wide with his challenge into the straight, disposed of BLUE MAGIC in a flash to win by the proverbial city block.

Bred by Henry W. Jaghai, RUM TALK is owed jointly by Stephen Chung, Valentine Chung and Clovis Metcalfe and conditioned by 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny, who said he had no concerns going into the race as the horse "likes it fresh".

RUM TALK will be aimed at the major long distance races for grade one horses, including the Superstakes. He is a five-year-old bay horse by Royal Minister out of Good As Gold.

Four winners

Meanwhile, Dane Nelson highlighted the 11-race programme by winning aboard the first four of his nine mounts - 3-5 favourite MARK TO MARKET, evens favourite PRIME MINISTER in the Calvin O'Sullivan Memorial Cup over 1820 metres, evens favourite IMAGE DANCER and bang in-form COCK ROBIN (5-2), who made it five in a row in the fifth race.

Paul 'Country' Francis rode three winners, while reigning champion Omar Walker rode two to move to 37 - three ahead of Nelson in the standings.