Tekapunt storms home to land Announcers’ Trophy

TEKAPUNT’s storming last-furlong run, at odds of 10-1, brought down the house on Caymanas Park Announcers Day with a thrilling finish, ably handled by ace race-caller, Brian Rickman, “Can Morimoto hang on? Here is Tekapunt flying on the outside with Rainsville … it’s close.”

Too close to call it was, TEKAPUNT storming to collar MORIMOTO, beating an unlucky - some would say lucky, depending on exacta ticket being held – RAINSVILLE by a neck at six and a half furlongs in the Caymanas Park Announcers’ Trophy for non-winners of an overnight-allowance event.

RAINSVILLE survived a lengthy stewards’ enquiry for bumping into GET A PEPSI inside the final half-furlong, allowed to keep his position by the panel from Winchester Road after seemingly ducking right in a bid to escape sand being kicked back by MORIMOTO’s in the leader’s desperate bid to steal home.

Almost unseating Allen Maragh, RAINSVILLE’s mishaps benefitted TEKAPUNT closing like a train with SUNSET SILHOUTTE. Maragh had also taken the grey in hand a furlong and a half out when GET A PEPSI closed an inviting space between himself and POWER RANKING.

Ridden flat to the board by Phillip Parchment from three furlongs out, TEKAPUNT moved as a trio with SUNSET SILHOUTTE and rail-running CLASSICAL ORB, some eight lengths mid-pack the 13-strong field, while favourite MORIMOTO poached a three-length lead ahead of POWER RANKING and GET A PEPSI turning for home.

Slowly away from post-position one and hemmed in along the rail on the far side, RAINSVILLE improved rapidly to cut the corner on the home turn, forming a quartet with CLASSICAL ORB and the stablemates, TEKAPUNT and SUNSET SILHOUTTE, who opted to swing wide while MORIMOTO poached a three-length lead ahead of POWER RANKING.

Travelling strong on the lead, 4-5 favourite MORIMOTO looked set to steal home entering the final furlong but fell to the closers shades from the wire, finishing fourth, a head behind third-place SUNSET SILHOUTTE, who was separated from runner-up RAINSVILLE by a neck.

TEKAPUNT closed a three-timer for champion trainer Jason DaCosta, who had earlier landed the second and fifth events with two-year-old COMEHOMETOME and SHOW GIRL, respectively, both ridden by leading jock Reyan Lewis, who moved to 89 wins, staying well clear of rivals atop the standings.

Racing continues with Saturday-Sunday meets at the weekend.