 |
|
by Mike Goddard
ELEVEN-TO-ONE outsider Rambrino upset a star-studded field to take the 1996 Cockspur Cup at the Garrison yesterday.
The bay gelding, trained by Barbadian Sean Hall and ridden by his lifelong friend, Chris Griffith, gave international owner Robert Sangster his first success in the Caribbean.
It was a fairytale story for the stable since Rambrino had given so many reasons to doubt him. It was feared that he may have been a coward who only gave his best at exercise, but the gelding came good at the right time, storming past the front-running Make'n It Happen to snatch the $100,000 first prize and the much desired Cockspur Cup.
Sangster, who was not there to see his horse win, had sent Rambrino to young trainer Hall on the instigation of his friend Paul Locke, and Hall's father, once feared fast bowler, Wes Hall.
The gelding arrived in November and Hall took his time getting him ready. In his first race he never settled but was placed and the next time out lost a shoe and had hoof problems.
Patience and dedication was the name of the game and Hall nursed Rambrino through the last week, concentrating on swimming him to keep fit.
Yesterday Chris Griffith had the gelding just off the pace set by Make'n It Happen and made his big move two furlongs out.
The pair caught Make'n It Happen halfway down the homestretch and stormed clear to win by a length-and-a-half.
The impressive three-year-old Surya Bhagwan ran a good race to be third while Mariposa Lily, which was very slowly into stride, came from a long way last to be fourth.
The unbeaten Veridique, which was strongly expected to add the Cockspur Cup to his Heineken Stakes win, broke down in the race and had to be pulled up.
Rambrino's victory was the climax of an unforgettable day for Hall. It was the last leg of a hat-trick of wins which started with Proud Decision and continued with Foreign Interest.
Two punters picked the Superfecta of Rambrino, Make'n It Happen, Surya Bhagwan and Mariposa Lily, and each walked away with $14,256.70. Rambrino paid $11.10 to win and $2.75 to place.
sitemap