THUNDERING HOOVES: Anderson Trotman keeping Messi (in front right) up to his work as the horses gallop up the home stretch. Also in the mix are Lethal Liesel (left), with Kenny John up, and Look For Wisdom (Jason Leacock), just behind Messi. Wash Brook (right), with Louis-Phillipe Beuzelin up, finished fourth. (Picture by Charles Pitt-Grant.)

by TYRONE EVELYN

THEY TRIED but they just couldn't mess with Messi in the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company Trophy Condition at the Garrison Savannah yesterday.

The three-year-old United States-bred colt, owned by Martin and Daniel Raizman, trained by Roger Parravicino, and ridden by Anderson Trotman, impressively won the 1 570 metres feature event in front of a boisterous bank holiday crowd.

The win brought the owners a useful first prize of $33 000 and the Ocala Trophy.

It was the Raizmans' second success in the race, as they had taken the 2005 event with Inluck, which incidentally was also trained by Parravicino and ridden by Trotman.

Trotman kept Messi close to the early pacesetters which were led by newcomer Soothing Whip (Juan Crawford), Lethal Liesel (Kenny John) and Old Brigand.

These three set a merry gallop going down the backstretch, while Trotman was biding his time on Messi, installed favourite by the punters.

Lethal Liesel picked up the running by the three-furlong marker as Soothing Whip started to feel the pressure and dropped back. Trotman asked Messi for an effort and the colt responded instantly.

Wash Brook (Louis-Phillipe Beauzelin) also tried to get in the race but he did not show the same kind of acceleration as Messi.

Messi collared Lethal Liesel by the two-furlong marker, swept into the lead and ran on strongly in the straight for an emphatic victory.

Lethal Liesel stayed on well to finish second while Look For Wisdom (Jason Leacock) finished fast to snatch third position from Wash Brook almost on the line.

Trotman was somewhat lucky in that he had fallen from Jamaica George two races before but escaped unhurt.

Anderson Ward was the day's most successful jockey with two wins. He won the Lost In The Fog Trophy Condition with Kingdora and the Silver Charm Trophy Condition with Bouncebak.

Apprentice Kenny John also passed the winning post twice but lost a race in the stewards' room.

He was first home on the Boston John-trained Solana in the Shop Away Trophy Condition, but Trotman, who had finished last on Hot Stuff, cited interference.

The stewards upheld the objection and placed Solana last. The second-placed Eye Of The Tiger, with Shane Collymore up, was promoted to first.

John's lone win came in the day's final race, the 1 100 metres Midnight Lute Trophy Condition in which he pushed Bandalero to almost a gate-to-finish victory.