THE QUICK GALLOPER’S RACE DAY RECAP – SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The 10-race card at Caymanas Park today (April 24) provided some talking points which are explored by THE QUICK GALLOPER. 

 HORSES

The three main talking points in the horse bracket are Make Up Artist, Nuclear Noon, and King Arthur. 

 MAKE UP ARTIST – The career of this filly has been hampered by injuries. Bred by Adore the Gold – Lipstick Lily, Make Up Artist at four years was racing for the first time.

Her demolition of eight albeit weak rivals caught the eye of many. Make Up Artist won by 18 lengths but not even that margin of victory was as poignant as the time she posted. Racing over 5 ½ furlongs, Make Up Artist clocked 1:05.2 on this newly resurfaced racetrack. She, based on her maiden run should go through the ranks easily and the hope is that Make Up Artist will stay healthy and realise her true potential. 

 NUCLEAR NOON – Gave a peep of his worth with a win (six furlongs) at the non-winners of two-level which has pushed him forward with gusto along the Classic trail. 

Nuclear Noon clocked a fast 58.1 seconds at five furlongs round when he won his first race on December 12, 2020, then under the guidance of trainer Gary Subratie. 

Following that fast timing, Nuclear Noon failed to show-up in the one-mile Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes on December 27. 

Now schooled by champion Anthony Nunes, Nuclear Noon with the win on Saturday posted one of the better times (1:12.3) done by a three-year-old at six furlongs thereby significantly boosting his credentials for the Kingston Cup (three-year-old colts and geldings – 7 ½ furlongs), which is a new addition to the racing calendar, on May 8. After the Kingston Cup, if all remains well, Nuclear Noon is expected to start in the 2000 Guineas scheduled for June 6. 

Nuclear Noon must be watched! 

 KING ARTHUR 

King Arthur is finding his best form at the four-year-old stage of his career. The win on Saturday (one mile) was his second in succession and was achieved at the Overnight Allowance level. King Arthur recorded a final time of 1:39.3. 

Let’s do a comparison between the four-year-olds King Arthur and Oneofakind, the latter scoring a scorching win over a mile on Friday (April 23). 

 ONEOFAKIND

Date of Race – Friday, April 23, 2021 

Category – Open Allowance/Graded Stakes – racing at this level for the first time

Weight Carried – 53 kilogrammes 

Distance – One mile 

Splits – 23.3 x 46.4 x 1:13.0 – Final Time 1:39.1

 KING ARTHUR 

Date of Race – Saturday, April 24, 2021

Category – Overnight Allowance – racing at this level for the first time

Weight Carried – 53 kilogrammes 

DISTANCE – One mile 

Splits – 23.2 x 46.1 x 1:11.2 – Final Time 1:39.3

 First off, Oneofakind’s final time was two-fifths of a second faster than King Arthur while the latter had better splits at two furlongs, four furlongs, and six furlongs. 

King Arthur, therefore, based on the times posted by the officials finished his last two furlongs in 28.3 seconds and Oneofakind in 26.1 seconds, which is a major difference. 

It should be noted that Oneofakind was under the pump in a fiercely contested race with Horse of the Year, Nipster, while King Arthur was relatively comfortable in his engagement.

Interesting times are ahead.

 THE TRAINERS

The continuation of the surge by trainer Jason DaCosta was the highlight of the two race days of Friday, April 23, and Saturday, April 24.

DaCosta had two winners on Friday and another two on Saturday. These wins allied others over the last three weeks have seen DaCosta hitting the list of top-10 trainers in position number 9 based on statistics up to April 23. 

THE JOCKEYS

It was another triple for Anthony Thomas, who over the two racedays of Friday (April 23) and Saturday (April 24) rode seven winners from 18 races.

He now takes the lead in the jockeys’ championship with 35 wins, three ahead of Dane Nelson.