The day commenced before a reserved Sunday crowd, with modest expectations surrounding the day's excitement.
Diamond Rock, with odds of 5-2, dominated the 1400-metre race, leading decisively to clinch victory by six lengths, ridden by Ramon Nepare with a two-kilogram claim. Trainer Courtney Williams had prepared Diamond Rock in top form.
The second race, a 1200-metre sprint, saw just six participants, with two dropping out before the midpoint. Despite doubts at 7/2 odds, Big Argument maintained the lead and won by three and a half lengths, with Paul Francis achieving his first of two wins that day, although a steward's inquiry followed.
Omar Walker easily guided 1-2 favorite Great Trick, trained by Gary Griffiths, to a 12 ¼-length triumph over 1400 metres in the third race.
Against 16/1 odds, Secret Traveller, a ten-year-old gelding, defied expectations in the 1000-metre fourth race. Jockey Phillip Parchment delivered a strong finish to win by nearly a length, trained by Oral Hayden.
Anthony Nunes, a three-time champion trainer, began a successful day with Power From Above (2-1) outlasting eight competitors over 1600 metres, winning by three and half lengths with Matthew Bennett in the saddle. After overcoming past difficulties, the four-year-old filly seems poised for further improvement.
Nunes' entrant, Irish Wish (4-5), ridden by Robert Halledeen, showed inexperience in the sixth race over 1100 metres but emerged victorious, disrupting Midnight Galaxy (Ruja Lahoe). At 3-1 odds, the filly was declared the winner, marking trainer Gresford Smith's first win of the year on his ninth attempt.
Race seven saw Readmylips, owned and trained by Randolph Scott and ridden by Oneil Mullings, easily lead and extend the gap to more than 13 lengths at the 1100-metre race's end, justifying the 8-5 odds.
Nunes celebrated again in the 1200-metre Sir Howard Stakes (race eight). Reyan Lewis steered Allegiance (9-1) from behind to overtake 4-5 favorite J Speith (Tevin Foster) by a half a length near the finish.
Volatility (9-5) confirmed Nunes' success, narrowly winning the 1000-metre race by a neck, with Paul Francis securing his double with adept riding in the final stretch.
