There's no stopping Feanny

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

FOR THE leading trainer Philip Feanny, the winners just keep rolling on.

Yesterday, the 11-time champion posted three winners on the 11-race programme at Caymanas Park, including the 3-2 second favourite RHYTHM OF MY HEART in the Grecian Fable Trophy over 1700 metres, race three in the National Gas Stations' Fillies and Mares Championship series for top class horses.

He also saddled the smart debutant RAKKADASH at 1-9 in the 800 metres (straight) two-year-old race and 1-5 favourite PERSONAL NEMESIS in the seventh race over 1100 metres.

Feanny thus pushed his season's tally to 49 winners, keeping him well on course to break his own record of 86 winners in a season set in 1991.

The versatile and consistent four-year-old filly RHYTHM OF MY HEART won the day's feature on a canter.

Owned by the Lakeland Farms and ridden by Shane Ellis who also won aboard RAKKADASH, RHYTHM OF MY HEART chased her lesser fancied stable companion SOLID IMPACT in the field of four, before surging ahead 600 metres out.

She cruised into the home turn a clear leader and with the 3-5 favourite CRUSADER'S SHIELD struggling at this stage, she kept on strongly to beat lightweight VOLCANIC ERUPTION (3-1) by all of 8 1/2 lengths.

As a result of this victory, her fifth from 11 starts this season, RHYTHM OF MY HEART has opened up a commanding lead over rivals in the series with three races still remaining.

This marks her second win in the series, having won the She's On Wheels Trophy over 1100 metres on May 27. She now leads with 50 points, clear of stable companions LET'S GO DANCIN and SOLID IMPACT on 27 and 26 points respectively. At the end of the line is a whopping $400,000 bonus awaiting her owner.

Earlier in the afternoon, veteran campaigner MASTER BLASTER (4-1) won his second consecutive race over the straight five course (claiming $97,500 - $90,000) to become the winningest horse in the history of local racing with 30 wins, surpassing the 1994 'Horse of the Year' EROS.

Claimed by Robert Darby after winning the Drumbeat Trophy ($80,000 claiming) on June 24, the bay gelding by Airgator out of Super Way made most under apprentice Valentino McBean to win by three quarters of a length from odds-on favourite TIMELESS CALL, a horse whose owner, Peter McGowan, was shot and killed by gunmen at his business place in Portmore on Thursday.

Owner/trainer Darby had this to say: "It's a nice feeling to be part of history. Many may not know, but this is the fourth time that Master Blaster has won for me.

"I claimed him from Wayne DaCosta and won three races last year and he claimed him back and eventually equalled the record a month ago.

"Now it's my turn to set the record straight. Although getting on in years, Master Blaster has many more races to win, providing he keeps sound. It's a honour and a privilege to be associated with this horse ... he loves to win," said Darby who had a second winner in RESOLVED..

Shane Ellis and Kenyatta Davis shared the riding honours with two winners each, Davis booting home 6-5 favourite PROUDEST NATIVE for trainer Richard Todd in the third and the 30-1 outsider NORAN BATMAN in the ninth race over 1100 metres.

Todd, the new claiming king, saddled his fourth winner since Wednesday, while hot apprentice Devon S. Thomas notched his seventh winner since July 8 aboard YOUNG DOCTOR in the fourth race..

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