KINGSTON, Jamaica - WITH the dearth of top-class sprinters in the horse population, top-rated handicapper Mahogany (1-5) duly delivered his confidently predicted victory over four rivals in the featured Eileen Cliggott Memorial Trophy. Tracking his speedy chief rival, She's My Destiny for 950 of the 1300 metres, the big six-year-old champion led approaching the distance and won by nearly three lengths in yet another convincing display, with first-time titlist Dane Dawkins at the reins for conditioner Ian Parsard.
The enigmatic reinsman Robert Halledeen rode the first of his three winners on the card in the 1200-metre opening event on the 10-race SVREL promotion. Starting at a price of 8-5, four-year-old maiden filly Select Me, schooled by Patrick Lynch, assumed the lead 400 metres out and ran well enough inside the final 100 metres to escape defeat by her closest rival by a diminishing neck advantage.
Halledeen followed up in race two — run over 1600 metres — with Sir John (3-5) saddled by champion Jason DaCosta for the trainer's first of two on the day. Both horsemen, Halledeen and DaCosta, combined their efforts in the 1500-metre race six to secure victory for owner Brian Chen's Olde Wharf (evens) and close the three-timer and the double for rider and trainer, respectively.
Former five-time champion Trevor Simpson was in double riding form as he was aboard Michael Marlowe's 9-5-backed Salute The Deputy, outstaying half a dozen rivals in the 1820-metre third event.
Simpson, the consummate fan favourite who has the distinction of establishing the existing record of 172 wins in a season, was in the winners' enclosure again following the 1000-metre-straight race four aboard Awesome Anthony (9-5), saddled by Patrick Taylor.
Owned and trained by Donovan Russell and ridden by Roger Hewitt, Timetosaygoodbye (2-1) led and never looked vulnerable in race five contested over the 800 metres of the straight course. In race seven, run at 1200 metres, Aaron Chatrie had a successful trip with five-year-old maiden Sensational Storm (3-2) to give trainer Colin Blair and himself the first winner of a stable double. Blair's successes were confirmed in the 1400-metre closing event, with 5-2 shot Classical Orb (USA) prevailing through the benefit of a vintage display of riding skills from Chatrie.
Speaking of vintage, it was the turn of 2019 champion Christopher Mamdeen to summon the requisite skill set for that designation. Riding Bella Bella (7-5) for conditioner Dale Murphy, Mamdeen had a battle with three-time former champion Anthony Thomas aboard top-rated maiden Kissmet (3-5) over the straight 1000 metres of race nine. The photo finish technology was able to confirm there was a win margin of a short head for Bella Bella.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Colin Blair for the improved performance of Classical Orb (USA), who was behind by a combined total of 55 lengths in its last three appearances but displayed today's Best Winning Gallop. There were four candidates for the riding accolade, Halledeen (Select Me), Simpson (Awesome Anthony) and Chatrie (Classical Orb from(USA) but the Jockeyship Award goes to Mamdeen (Bella Bella).
