KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE opening event on the Sunday 10-race card allowed long-serving trainer Arnold Rambally to open his seasonal account with Queen Adele (9-5) better than six lengths clear of her nearest rival. The five-year-old-mare was the pick of the post parade and ran accordingly to give jockey Roger Hewitt the first of his two successes on the race day.
United States importee Divine Force was easily the most impressive of the ten winners on a card supported by 110 declarations. Dominating the early fractions of the 1,400-metre gallop for race two, the well-conformed three-year-old schooled by former 14-time champion Philip Feanny — was asked to stretch his legs a bit more in the home straight to a 13½-length winning advantage. This was the first of triple success for former three-time champion reinsman Anthony Thomas.
Race three, run at 1,100 metres, generated huge talking points as 45/1 outsider Hunza (Devon A Thomas), racing for the second time after failing to finish the first race, was first past the post. However, he interfered with and intimidated two of his rivals and was demoted to sixth. Zion’s Princess (3-2), trained by veteran Michael Beecham and piloted by three-kilogramme claiming jockey Ramon Nepare, got the benefit of the inexperience of Hunza who, despite this, looks likely to get it right soon.
Roulette Boss (4-5), trained by Dennis Thwaites and ridden by Paul Francis, confirmed the promise he advertised in his three previous starts by releasing his maiden tag over the 1,300 metres of race four while in the 1,000-metre straight race five, seven-year-old mare Denbigh Life (2-1) was driven to lead inside the final 100 metres with Robert Halledeen riding his fifth 2023 winner to date.
Starting at odds of 5-1 and guided by Roger Hewitt to confirm double success for this rider on the day, JJthestriker, conditioned by Fitznahum Williams for owner/breeder Shawn Abrahams, was two- and-a-half lengths ahead of his field in the 1,200-metre sprint of race six.
Race seven over 1,300 metres had a winning favourite in Iannai Links (3-5) , with Reyan Lewis riding for champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s sole winner on the card.
Bet at 3-1, Xceptional Babz, conditioned by Norman Smith, led and never looked likely to be overtaken before the 1,200-metre gallop of race eight was covered. For Anthony Thomas this secured the second of his three winning mounts by a margin of three lengths.
The longest-priced winner came in the 1,500-metre ninth event with Freedom Street (14-1) — who from a prominent position led just over 450 metres out — and two-kilogramme claiming jockey Jordan Barrett who did the honours for trainer Patrick Lynch.
Trainer Alford Brown’s improving four-year-old colt Yellowstone (9-2) turned in the best performance of his 11-race career with a game performance in the featured 1,100-metre George HoSang Trophy run as the 10th event. Assuming the lead just over 200 metres out, Yellowstone gave those chasing little hope of getting back on terms as he ran very well inside the last 100 to hold the advantage safely for Thomas to claim the day’s riding honours with this his third win.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Alford Brown for the immediate matriculation of Yellowstone to Overnight Allowance company — which many decent horses have been unable to achieve at the first time of asking. In so doing the colt executed the Best Winning Gallop with the invaluable assistance provided by Thomas earning him the Jockeyship Award.
