FOUR HORSES CLAIMED
Two horses were claimed from the fifth event, including winner Denbigh Life, who was claimed from Dennis Thwaites by Christopher Pierre for owner Richard Whyte, while Steven Todd claimed Balazo from Errol A Subratie for himself. Both were claimed for $400,000 each.
From the seventh event, trainer Gresford Smith took winner Iannai Links for himself from Jason DaCosta and Turnonthelight went to Arnold Rambally Jr for owner Rohan Daley from the barn of Alford Brown. Both went for $750,000 each.
QUEEN ADELE RETURNS WITH A BANG - FIGURE 8 ON
It has been over 10 months since Queen Adele was last in action and the chestnut mare made a successful return to competitive racing as she topped a five-year-old and upwards non-winner of two races and imported maidens contest in commanding fashion.
After shedding the maiden tag on February 20, last year, Queen Adele had an unsuccessful attempt at the non-winner of two races level on March 12 and returned two weeks later to place fourth in a $550,000 claiming event when she finished lame.
However, trainer Arnold Rambally Jr went ahead with the claim and bided his time with the Bern Identity – Proud Song progeny, before bringing her back as his first starter for the season, for a crack at rivals over 6 furlongs (1,200m).
Ridden by Roger Hewitt, Queen Adele running with the figure-8 on, left the number 10 draw tidily and quickly moved into third position, as Chiney Music (Reyan Lewis) and Beautiful Bran (Andree Powell) tussled on the headline.
Leaving the half-mile, Hewitt urged Queen Adele to keep pace with the leaders and soon had them covered approaching the final turn. When they straightened Chiney Music dismissed Beautiful Bran, but had nothing in the tank to withstand the late rattle of Queen Adele, who hit the front close to the furlong pole and pulled away comfortably.
The James Forbes and Nadine Russell-Forbes-owned Queen Adele won by 6¾ lengths in a final time of 1:18.3, behind splits of 24.0 and 49.3 seconds. Dancinginthebreeze (Kiaman McGregor), Hopenperseverance (Christopher Mamdeen) and Audibility (Jerome Innis) took the minor placings.
Hewitt also won the sixth event aboard Fitznahum Williams’s JJthestriker in a five-year-old and upwards non-winner of three races and imported non-winner of two races call, also over 6 furlongs.
Like Queen Adele, Hewitt competently brought the Shawn Abrahams-owned JJthestriker (Here Comes Ben – Zara) from off the pace to win by 2 ½ lengths in a final time of 1:16.3. The splits were 23.2 and 48.0 seconds.
Letters In Gold (Christopher Mamdeen) was second, while Conundrum (Kiaman McGregor) and Big Argument (Paul Francis) completed the frame.
ZION’S PRINCESS SHEDS MAIDEN VIA STEWARDS’ ROOM
After 18 races in which she registered two second-place and three third-place finishes, Zion’s Princess finally released the maiden tag, albeit, in the Stewards’ Room.
The Michael Beecham-owned and trained charge initially placed second in the four-year-old and upwards Maiden Condition call at 5½ furlongs (1,100m), but was later awarded top spot. Hunza (Devon A Thomas), who went by the post in first place, was disqualified for causing interference and intimidation throughout the race.
Partnered with in-form apprentice Ramon Nepare, Zion’s Princess, who showed marked improvement at exercise, entered the contest with the tongue-tie off, figure-8 on and Lasix administered.
The four-year-old filly (Midnight Hawk – Lookatmenow) was sent off as the howling 3-2 favourite and had to work her way through traffic in the 11-horse field, which was led by Caveman (Chalrick Budhai) and Dancing With A Cat (Jerome Innis).
By the time they got to the half-mile turn, Heroine (Oneil Mullings) took over proceedings with Hunza the closest pursuer approaching the homestretch. When they straightened Zion’s Princess was left back in fifth and seemed without hope as Hunza and Heroine locked horns before the former gradually gained the ascendancy at the furlong pole.
However, Heroine renewed her challenge on the inside rails in the closing stages and was squeezed by Hunza.
After the Stewards’ Inquiry, Zion’s Princess, who closed fast to snatch second, was awarded the race ahead of Mickey C (Oshane Nugent) and Heroine with Edina Marsh (Samantha Fletcher) back in fourth. Hunza, who also interfered with Dancing With A Cat earlier in the race, was placed sixth.
The final time was 1:11.3. The splits were 24.1 and 49.2 seconds.
DENNIS THWAITES SECURES A DOUBLE
Trainer Dennis Thwaites was the pick of his peers on the card, as he registered a natural double, winning the fourth and fifth events with Roulette Boss and Denbigh Life respectively.
Ridden by Paul “Country” Francis, Roulette Boss with figure-8 off chased down rivals in a three-year-old maiden Condition event travelling 6 ½ furlongs (1,300m).
The Rabalac Connection-owned bay colt (Hedge Fund – My Heartbeat) won by 2¾ lengths, ahead of Savvy Girl (Tevin Foster), Phenomenal One (Phillip Parchment) and Roaring Thunder (Robert Halledeen).
Roulette Boss stopped the clock in 1:23.2. The splits were 24.0, 49.0 and 1:15.4.
Denbigh Life then followed in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claimer ($400,000-$300,000) event over the 5-furlong (1,000m) straight course to give Thwaites his second win on the day and third of the season.
The seven-year-old chestnut mare (Adore The Gold –City Train), who has been a staple in the higher claiming ranks, was clearly better than this level.
Bustling rider Robert Halledeen got the Lisa Watson-owned charge from the number two draw without issues and sat behind KD Rocket (Dane Dawkins), Sheer Beauty (Christopher Mamdeen) and Balazo (Paul Francis) in the early exchanges.
When they came across the final quarter, KD Rocket and Denbigh Life separated themselves from the pack and the two locked horns to the furlong pole before Halledeen and the Harry Parsard-bred Denbigh Life asserted their authority and ran away for a comfortable win.
They were 5 ¼ lengths ahead of KD Rocket, with Stanislaus (Youville Pinnock) and Just An Illusion (Ramon Nepare) running on to complete the frame.
The final time was a flat 1:02.0, behind splits of 23.4 and 46.4 seconds.