KINGSTON, Jamaica - RUN as the seventh on the 10-race promotion, the featured event was the third renewal of the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Trophy. A Welshman, Hamilton operated the Caymanas Estates sugar farming operation, owned some of the best horses five decades ago, was president of the Jockey Club of Jamaica, and served as chairman of the standing Horse of the Year committee.
Only five were declared for the 1600-metre gallop, and 1-5 favourite I’ve Got Magic (USA) confirmed the predictable outcome in a three-length victory with Tevin Foster at the reins to secure his second riding success of the afternoon. Owned by Lakeland Farms Ltd and conditioned by former 14-time champion Philip Feanny, I’ve Got Magic (USA), toting 57 kilogrammes, kept the front-runner Lure Of Lucy (USA) — running with 51.5 kilos — under pressure and took control 200 metres out.
The opening event was won by Asurety (8-5) to give Foster the first of his two winners. Having his 26th career start, the hard-knocking, four-year-gelding maiden, schooled by Edward Stanberry, was hardly convincing at any stage of the 1400-metre contest and beat 10-1 shot Jupiter Man, later disqualified from second, by three parts of a length.
Owned and trained by former jockey Phillip Elliott, 4-5 favourite Storm Valley with former six-time champion Omar Walker enjoying the canter was better than five lengths clear at the finish of the day’s second. Run over 1200 metres, this was to be the first winner of the season on a day of rare double success for Elliott.
The third event was significant in terms of having implications for the 2023 Futurities. The maiden event run at 1600 metres was won by 4-5 favourite Big Guy In Thesky who needed very little persuasion in the home stretch to be six and a half lengths ahead of the nearest of seven rivals. Bred at YS (1955) Ltd, owned by Chevan Maharaj, and conditioned by Gary Subratie for the first of a stable double on the card, the colt gave champion Dane Dawkins his first success and therefore the opening leg of his riding double.
The final time of 1:45.0 was run against a very strong, unusual northerly breeze down the backstretch. Based on the wind strength and direction, the adjusted time is closer to 1:42.0. With normal improvement and no unforeseen unfortunate circumstance, being a well-conformed colt with the requisite stamina Big Guy In Thesky is likely to be a significant factor in the Classics.
Dawkins only had to wait half an hour to close the double as race four went in a driving finish to former top-class campaigner Stranger Danger (USA), winner of his first nine races locally. Now a seven-year-old and well fancied at today’s odds of 8-5, he arrived in the final stride to beat Versatile Vision (4-1) by a short head for trainer Fitzgerald Richards’ first success of the new season.
The list of riders with legitimate claims as likely 2023 champion include titlist Dawkins, Robert Halledeen, former three-time holder Anthony Thomas, and Reyan Lewis. All are well supported by the major outfits. Lewis, who starts a two-day suspension on February 4, secured two wins on the programme with the first being Aphelios (7-5) for trainer Phillip Elliott to confirm that stable’s double.
Lewis’s second on the day and eighth of the month came in the closing 1000-metre-straight closing event aboard 11-1 shot Posing Already for trainer Robert Pearson.
It was 12-1 against the Lawrence Freemantle-owned and -trained six-year-old mare Nina Dorada (Javaniel Patterson) but she led and ran well inside the last 200 metres to score by just over one length while American-bred, three-year-filly Sistren Treasure (4-1), well ridden by Raddesh Roman, gave trainer Subratie his second trip to the winners’ enclosure following the running of the 1100-metre race eight.
Race nine was won in a welcome return to form by four-year-filly Outbidder (6-5), with Halledeen doing the riding honours for champion trainer Jason DaCosta. Finishing last but two in the St Leger but excluding a setback, the $6.1-million yearling purchase would have been competitive in the Classics restricted to her own sex.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Robert Pearson for the convincing effort of Posing Already to win immediately by over three lengths in the higher non-winners of two races category, following its maiden success on December 31 last year. The Best Winning Gallop was executed by Sistren Treasure (USA) in a display of speed, stamina and courage with the rider Raddesh Roman doing justice to his own skill set. In a stride for stride late battle with former five-time champion Trevor Simpson, Roman displayed the requisite will to win to earn himself the Jockeyship Award.
