KINGSTON, Jamaica - The opening event on the 10-race programme went to 9-5 joint favourite Jupiter Man with his performance the subject of another steward’s inquiry.
Disqualified from second in his previous race, the Delroy Wisdom-conditioned four-year-old maiden colt always travelled well and assumed the lead with 250 of the 1,400 metres to cover. However, he made life a little uncomfortable for Trevor Simpson aboard chief rival Blue Persuasion (6-1) fighting back. Jupiter Man won by over two lengths and jockey Phillip Parchment would have been relieved when the stewards determined there was insufficient “intimidation and inference” to warrant any action.
Speaking of intimidation and interference, it was manifestly evident in race eight run at 1,100 metres. The race was awarded to Errol Burke’s Little Grovy Thing (9-1) ridden by three-kilogramme claiming reinsman Anthony Allen for his first success since returning from a two-year ban last October. JJ Warrior (Aaron Chatrie) led, but entering the final 200 metres, first past the post Letters In Gold (Christopher Mamdeen) overtook and drifted dangerously into his path. The inevitable outcome for Letters In Gold was a relegation to third for costing JJ Warrior his best possible position on the frame.
Former six-time champion Omar Walker was in double riding form with the first coming in the day’s second aboard Outbidder (4-5) who was turned out in unbeatable condition by champion Jason DaCosta. Seemingly fully recovered from a setback which resulted in a finish well down the track in the St Leger and absence from the other 2022 Classics the well-conformed filly won her previous event two weeks earlier.
Walker had little to do today as Outbidder was always clear and eventually eight lengths superior to her nearest rival. However, closing the two-timer the complete range of Walker’s skill set, including balance and timing, was required aboard 9-2 shot Taurus Boy (USA) in winning the featured Overnight Allowance ninth event. Not the best at leaving the gates these days, the Phillip Feanny-trained five-year-old horse benefited from a well-timed late flourish to win the competitive event by a neck.
The 1,200-metre race three went predictably to Dancininthebreeze (9-5) with veteran jockey Paul Francis guiding the five-year-old gelding to victory by just over three lengths.
Victory by 5-2 bet Undecided over the 1,100 metres of race was the infrequent occurrence of a trainer Patrick Lynch, who bred and owns this winner ceding the conditioning of the horse to fellow practitioner David Powell.
Another veteran reinsman was in the winner’s enclosure half an hour later at the end of the 1,400-metre fifth. Devon A Thomas, who starts a five-day suspension on February 18 was aboard Dodge This Link for trainer Rowan Mathie. Thomas is required to finance a $20,000 fine as well for the disqualification from first of his mount Hunza for an incident on January 29, 2023.
In my view, these sanctions are excessive as the horse in question, Hunza, made his first and only prior appearance on July 30, 2022 and failed to finish. The inexperienced five-year-old surprisingly darted sharply left under pressure, despite Thomas’s effort, including use of his whip left-handed, to keep his mount galloping on a true line. The inevitable justifiable disqualification of Hunza should have sufficed.
The most significant result came in the sixth event run over 1,400 metres and restricted to maiden three-year-olds. Bred and owned by trainer Carl Anderson and piloted by Bebeto Harvey, Secret Admiral (2-1) an impressively conformed and eye-catchingly big strong colt, won by five-and-a-half lengths. The performance suggests that with normal improvement following this promising type of debut he will be competitive in the 2023 Futurities.
Former five-time champion Trevor Wayne Simpson’s fourth winner from seven rides this season was delivered in a front-running effort aboard evens favourite Danny Spud in the day’s seventh contested over 1,200 metres. This was trainer Keffin Murray’s fifth success from 18 starts this year. Simpson, who resides overseas for over a decade, is currently on his annual working vacation here and has rekindled memories of the halcyon days when he rode a now unattainable record 172 winners in one season. The closing event over 1,100 metres ended in a front-running victory for 2-1 chance Rambling Rose ridden by Youville Pinnock for owner/trainer David Lee Sin.
The Training Feat Award is presented to David Powell for the performance of Undecided in its 21st race course appearance. Clearly difficult to train, this six-year-old horse had his only prior success over four years ago when the release of his maiden tag came by way of a disqualification of winner to whom he was second. The Best Winning Gallop was executed by Taurus Boy (USA) and for reasons stated above Omar Walker earns himself the Jockeyship Award.
