KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Non-Restricted Easter Sprint Cup for the Overnight category of horses was staged as the 10th and closing event on day three of the 29-race holiday weekend carnival. Eleven faced the starter with four-year-old Brinks, who was second in the Jamaica Derby, fancied to the tune of 8-5 favourite.
However, in pursuit of 2-1 frontrunner Madelyn’s Sunshine (USA) ridden by Reyan Lewis, Brinks chased the Jason DaCosta-trained American filly from 300 metres out without looking likely to get on terms in the stretch drive of the 1,100-metre gallop. He proved inferior by three and a half lengths but will be winning again soon.
This victory confirmed double success for the DaCosta and Lewis collaboration. Half an hour earlier, maiden Gahly Gahly Links (5-2) was just a little more than one length superior to stablemate Brown Skin Girl over the 1,400 metres of Division II restricted to three-year-old fillies and staged as race nine. In fact, it was triple success for leading reinsman Lewis. He won race five aboard Adenosine from in front over the 1,000 metres round trip at odds of 5-1 for veteran trainer Enos Brown.
Given the ideal 600-metre trip of race one, post position eight and a favourable weight allotment including the three-kilogramme claim of jockey Natalie Berger, speedy Freedom For Eds (3-1) was clear early and no threat came from any of his half a dozen rivals. Early last December, Berger was aboard when the Norman Smith-conditioned 10-year-old gelding won by a short head. Monday’s winning advantage was a length and a quarter and the first winner for this representative of the fairer sex from 10 opportunities in 2023.
In race two, 1-5 favourite Gentle Giant saddled by Oneil Markland presented with a simple task outsprinted five rivals won comfortably by just over two lengths. This was the opener of a riding double for former six-time champion Omar “Champo” Walker (10). The famous reinsman brought Philip Feanny’s maiden Inspire Force (USA) from well off the pace of the 1,100-metre gallop to score by three parts of a length at odds of 1-2 for the winning purse of race seven.
For his fifth winner over the carnival, champion Dane Dawkins won the fourth event. He piloted Gary Subratie’s American imported maiden Sizzling Sista K (9-5) to a runaway of almost nine lengths over the 1,000-metre straight course.
In race six, run at 1,400 metres, Omron (7-1), owned and trained by Joseph Thomas, was clear early. The five-year-old mare never looked likely to be overtaken and Raddesh Roman had the luxury of stealing glances over his shoulder in the home straight.
Bred, owned and trained by former top-flight jockey Fitzroy Glispie, debutant Princess Sharon (5-2) impressed with a five-length win margin in Division I of the restricted maiden condition for three-year-old fillies. Always going well for Anthony Thomas, a former three-time jockey titlist, the medium-sized progeny of Soul Warrior was comfortable over the 1,400 metres and looks likely to more than pay her way.
The Training Feat Award goes to Joseph Thomas for the quite spectacular transformation of Omron (7-1). From customarily running from well off the early pace in 19 previous career starts, the five-year old mare showed remarkable speed to dominate what appeared a strong field throughout in a display befitting the Best Winning Gallop. Omar Walker is presented with the Jockeyship Award for a well-judged late effort on seventh race winner Inspire Force.
