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'Jollyman' notches sweet victory
Published: Thursday | November 4, 2010 1 Comment and 0 Reactions
Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer Veteran [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]jockey[/COLOR][/COLOR] Vassel 'Jollyman' Najair rode his third winner in recent weeks when bringing the 21-1 outsider RULE BY SECRECY from last to first in the Alty McKenzie Memorial Cup feature (claiming $350,000-$300,000) over 1600 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Najair, who at age 57 is the second-oldest jockey at Caymanas Park behind 60-year-old David 'Scorcher' McKenzie, explained that the Leroy Biggs-trained RULE BY SECRECY walked out of the starting gate as usual, but he followed the trainer's instructions to the letter.
"This is a horse who is always tardy at the start, but the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]trainer[/COLOR][/COLOR] told me not to rush him ... just get him into stride from the half-mile.
"I knew I had them beaten when swinging wide at the top of the lane and he just exploded on them a furlong out for a runaway win," said Najair, who started [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]riding[/COLOR][/COLOR] in 1967 as a flyweight apprentice to the late trainer Eileen Cliggott.
"I've been riding at Caymanas Park for 43 years and have experienced the ups and downs of local racing ... injury, suspensions, you name it. But the fact that at my age I am still able to put away the winners is testament to my longevity.
"Age is only a number and with my level of fitness, I have many more races to win, so long as I get the rides," added Najair, who has ridden three winners in the past three weeks - RULE BY SECRECY, FIRST EDITION and DA GLITTERMAN.'Jolly' rode a fourth winner - JACKBENNIMBLE - his first for the season on July 17 in a race confined to jockeys who had not ridden a winner up to that point of the season.
Yesterday, Najair sat and watched as highly fancied QUIET KNIGHT (9-5) under champion jockey Omar Walker led from PASSA PASSA (3-1), CLASSY COMPANY (7-2) and the 8-5 favourite IL CAMANO in a field of 10. But when RULE BY SECRECY got into [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]top [COLOR=blue !important]gear[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] approaching the distance, it was all over - winning by 8 1/2 lengths.
Apprentice Jevvanne Erwin was the day's top rider with two winners in AWESOME ANNETTE (5-2) and COUGWAY (5-1).
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Published: Thursday | November 4, 2010 1 Comment and 0 Reactions
Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer Veteran [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]jockey[/COLOR][/COLOR] Vassel 'Jollyman' Najair rode his third winner in recent weeks when bringing the 21-1 outsider RULE BY SECRECY from last to first in the Alty McKenzie Memorial Cup feature (claiming $350,000-$300,000) over 1600 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Najair, who at age 57 is the second-oldest jockey at Caymanas Park behind 60-year-old David 'Scorcher' McKenzie, explained that the Leroy Biggs-trained RULE BY SECRECY walked out of the starting gate as usual, but he followed the trainer's instructions to the letter.
"This is a horse who is always tardy at the start, but the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]trainer[/COLOR][/COLOR] told me not to rush him ... just get him into stride from the half-mile.
"I knew I had them beaten when swinging wide at the top of the lane and he just exploded on them a furlong out for a runaway win," said Najair, who started [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]riding[/COLOR][/COLOR] in 1967 as a flyweight apprentice to the late trainer Eileen Cliggott.
"I've been riding at Caymanas Park for 43 years and have experienced the ups and downs of local racing ... injury, suspensions, you name it. But the fact that at my age I am still able to put away the winners is testament to my longevity.
"Age is only a number and with my level of fitness, I have many more races to win, so long as I get the rides," added Najair, who has ridden three winners in the past three weeks - RULE BY SECRECY, FIRST EDITION and DA GLITTERMAN.'Jolly' rode a fourth winner - JACKBENNIMBLE - his first for the season on July 17 in a race confined to jockeys who had not ridden a winner up to that point of the season.
Yesterday, Najair sat and watched as highly fancied QUIET KNIGHT (9-5) under champion jockey Omar Walker led from PASSA PASSA (3-1), CLASSY COMPANY (7-2) and the 8-5 favourite IL CAMANO in a field of 10. But when RULE BY SECRECY got into [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]top [COLOR=blue !important]gear[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] approaching the distance, it was all over - winning by 8 1/2 lengths.
Apprentice Jevvanne Erwin was the day's top rider with two winners in AWESOME ANNETTE (5-2) and COUGWAY (5-1).
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