The 29th renewal of the Thoroughbred Racing Hall Of Fame Stakes Trophy Open Allowance, and staged as race nine, was featured on the programme of ten races.
Eight contenders faced the starter with the recent 7 ½-furlong winner in track record time, Phenomenal Power (USA), installed the 3-5 favourite in the market.
Former top-rated sprinter, Desert of Malibu (USA), now at seven years old, an impressively conformed strapping chestnut mare, a progeny of Malibu Moon (USA), was declared by Gary Subratie.
She was given outstanding assistance by apprentice Tajay Suckoo, who was patient in pursuing chief rival California Crown (10-1) to seal a riding triple with a margin of a half-length. The promising reinsman now moves to 38 wins and stands fourth in the top ten.
Suckoo took the inside path at the top of the stretch, came off the far rails, and after a duel of epic proportions, wore down California Crown to be the winner of the six-furlong gallop by half a length. Desert of Malibu confirmed convincingly the fact that she has retained a lot of the ability of former years, which made her the top handicapper in 2023.
The opener of ten races was a Maiden Condition, over five furlongs on the round course, for four-year-olds. Only winless jockeys this season were eligible for declaration. Interestingly, Super Storm (5-1), saddled by trainer Phillip Lee and ridden by Natalie Berger, led and beat Army Recruit (3-1), partnered by her counterpart Joy Haynes. The pair were clear throughout the gallop, with the winner a length and a half in front of Army Recruit and third to finish Bellona (7-1), 11½ lengths further back.
Over a trip similar to race one, the second event for $1.0 million claimers, went 22/1 choice Sipping On Sunshine, trained by Winston Morris. Skilfully ridden by apprentice Emilio McLean, he induced a late flourish through a narrow gap on the far rails for a victory margin of half a length.
Wah A Gwaan at odds of 7-2 made all to win race three over nine and a half furlongs. Tevin Foster rated the three-year-old colt, whose last victory was over 5 ½ furlongs, exceptionally well. Conditioned by Christopher Pierre, Wah A Gwaan lasted home by three parts of a length to pass the test of stamina, in a race restricted to second-season campaigners with fewer than three successes.
Now 11 years-old, Drone Strike (9-5), the 2017 Derby winner, won the fourth event, run at five furlongs round by 15 lengths. In this race for $200,000 claimers, two-time and reigning champion Raddesh Roman was aboard Drone Strike for owner/trainer Oral Hayden.
Whilst in race five for $500,000 claimers, KP Choice (5-1), trained by Patrick Lynch and ridden by 2023 champion Ryan Lewis, was always clear in the 5½-furlong sprint to score by five lengths.
Next was race six and a change of distance to the straight course. At the end, owner/trainer Renex Burrell was in the winners’ enclosure to welcome 6 ½-length winner Shelly the Rocket (6-1) with apprentice Evertte Clunis astride.
As expected, Run Julie Run (3-5), ridden by Tajay Suckoo, to open a double, from the stable of Peter-John Parsard, was 1½ lengths ahead of stable companion Intrestntimesahead (3-2) in the extended nine-furlong run for the Mark My Word Trophy staged as race seven to honour the exploits of the 2010 Triple Crown winner.
Mohanlal (14-1), fourth in the 2000 Guineas in June and 11th of 13 by over sixty lengths in the St. Leger two weeks ago, responded to the corrective measures of trainer Richard Azan and was a two-length winner of the Overnight Allowance one-mile race eight and the second of three for Suckoo.
In closing the card, trainer Alford Brown conditioned colt Prosperity Sen (7-2), guided by Tyrese Anderson, was the best by over eight lengths in the one-mile event for three-year-old maidens.
