Orville Clarke, Star Writer

CARIDAD, running as the 2-1 second favourite with US-based Jamaican jockey Alien Maragh aboard, finished like a bomb to win the 72nd running of the Jamaica Oaks over 2000 metres by a neck from the luckless RIGHT MARKER (5-1) at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

Outpaced for most of the way in a field of 13 native-bred three-year-old fillies, CARIDAD turned for home some eight lengths off the pace in fifth, this after the rank outsider LADY JAGRATI, highly fancied SWEET TRAIL (5-2) and 6-5 favourite NIPHAL (the recent 1000 Guineas winner) had alternated in the lead.

RIGHT MARKER, who was never far off the pace with Paul Francis up, circled the leaders SWEET TRAIL and NIPHAL entering the straight and looked to have the race sewn when racing into a four-length lead approaching the distance.

However, she bumped into the running rails twice in the last furlong, lost a bit of momentum and was caught on the line by CARIDAD, who came flying at the finish.

stay the distance

Both finished 4 1/2 lengths clear of LUSCIOUS (40-1) in third, while SWEET TRAIL faded into fourth place, with NIPHAL, who failed to stay the distance, weakening into seventh place.

A chestnut filly by SKIPPING out of MYLEGACY, CARIDAD, who was third to NIPHAL in the April 2 1000 Guineas over a mile, is owned and bred by Joseph 'Fudgie' Duany and trained by 14-time champion Philip Feanny, who saddled three winners on the 'Ladies' Day programme.

The others were the highly fancied debutante QUEEN ADIRA and MY HEARTBEAT at 3-1 in the respective sections of the Ricochet Stakes over 1000 metres round for native-bred three-year-old fillies.

Feanny, meanwhile, posted his eighth Oaks winner, in the process ticking off a record 45th classic win in a long and distinguished training career.