ZUNZUN, GIVEN a peach of a ride by visiting Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas, outbattled the Dane Nelson-ridden favourite SPACEMAN to win the Rameses Trophy co-feature over 1600 metres in a driving finish at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Cardenas, who has been impressing turfites with his style of riding since arriving here last month as stable jockey for the Husseys, went wire-to-wire aboard 2-1 chance ZUNZUN.
The three-year-old filly from the stables of 14-time champion Philip Feanny was strongly challenged by the ever-present SPACEMAN (4-5) coming out of the home turn.
But despite the vigorous efforts of Superstakes winning jockey Dane Nelson to get on terms aboard SPACEMAN, Cardenas kept ZUNZUN beautifully balanced, changing his hold repeatedly from below the distance to stave off SPACEMAN by a head. MEDUSA and JET SKIER were declared late non-starters, reducing the field to five.
A dark bay filly by Alisios out of the former champion broodmare Hya, ZUNZUN, a half-sister to MIRACLE MAN, is owned and bred by Joseph 'Fudgie' Duany. This was her third career win from 13 starts. Significantly, the two Panamanian jockeys currently riding at Caymanas Park, Cardenas and Ameth Robles, won the co-feature races.
Interpreter
Robles, who acts as interpreter for Cardenas who speaks no English, booted home 11-1 outsider SIR VALIANT for trainer Gresford Smith in the two-year-old maiden special (colts and geldings) for the Royal Lancaster Trophy over 1200 metres.
Running with Lasix on this his second outing, SIR VALIANT ran on strongly on the rails to catch and beat long-time leader, the debutant FEE FI FOE (12-1) in a driving finish with the highly-fancied MEELO (5-2) finishing third in a blanket finish. Eight ran.
SIR VALIANT is a dark bay colt by Vanadium out of the 1993 'Horse of the Year', Vestia, who won the Superstakes for Feanny that year.
With howling favourites CLASSICAL BULLET in the two-year-old feature, SPACEMAN, CALVIN THE GREAT and CHARLIE CHAPLIN biting the dust, it proved a tough day for form players. Neither the Super-6 nor Pick-9 was caught.
The day's big upset was provided by 70-1 outsider PRINCESS ZANAI (Devon A. Thomas) for owner/trainer Louis Richards in the overnight allowance sprint.
She produced a devastating last furlong run to catch the leaders DANCING SAM and favourite TOBAGO within shades of the wire.
Florida-based Jamaican jockey Ramon Parish booted home 5-1 chance THEDIVINEKING in the seventh race, his first winner since SILVER WEDDING in 2005.