Mr K wins Whitsun Race
Sattout Omar stable’s Mr K, was once again the runaway winner in last Saturday’s Division 3B invitation race of the Whitsun Race Meeting, winning by almost four lengths for her first overjoyed trainer Samuel Bampoh Botchway at the Accra Turf Club (ATC) at Ashaley Botwe, near the University Farms.
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Mr K, who won the maiden “Easter Egg Cup Challenge” held at the same venue a fortnight ago, covered a distance of 1,400 metres in an average time of 2 mins 14 seconds after taking an early lead and maintained it to that spectacular finish.
Ridden by jockey Joseph Lamptey, who had the highest weight of 9st.0Ib, Mr K stretched first and second runners-up, Sly Mongoose ridden E. Charway, and Hajia by S. Sumaila, while a bad start saw High Rise (J. Mensah) relegated to the back as the leaders cruised to victory.
In a post-race interview, an elated Joseph Lamptey said, “I prayed to God to help me win and I believe he did. This is my job so I wish God would continue to bless me so that when this place is fully established to the standard we are all expecting, I will benefit.”
He appealed to the government to come to their aid and support the game ‘because as jockeys, this is the only job we have.”
Seven horses lined up for the Division 3B invitation race, the third race of the day, and they included Marie Cruz (E. A. Mensah), Sea Never Dry (R. Nettey) and Baafira and a unit of GH¢10 ticket staked as a bet fetched the winner GH¢32.
The second race, which was opened to horses in Div 4A over five furlongs, saw Fresh Boy (J Mensah) being crowned champion after beating competition from Who Is Free (S. T. Madu) and Copta (R. Amoah) to finish within an average time of 1.34 seconds.
Copta took off early, followed by Fresh Boy and Who Is Free but Fresh Boy overtook them. At about 500 metres to the end, the challenge was between Fresh Boy and Who Is Free, but Fresh Boy, finished first as who is free ran out of steam.
The last race of the day, which was a five- furlong outing for maiden horses, dubbed ‘Novices’, also saw Sea Bird (D, Kotey) snatching the title from Diplomatic Lady (E. Charway) and Shatter (C. Ampah) in a time of 1.35 seconds.
The “Whitsun Race Meeting” attracted many spectators, including fans, horse owners and trainers, as well as old and new jockeys.