Up to 1974, the Jamaica Guineas was a Classic contested by eligible three-year-olds over a distance of 1800 metres/9 furlongs.
The following year, the separation of the sexes heralded the commencement of the British model of 1000 and 2000 Guineas over 1600 metres / 8 furlongs.
Therefore, with the first leg of the traditional Triple Crown having two winners, it made for more intriguing talking points concerning the prospects of the outcome of the Classic seasons.
In winning the Jamaica Two-Year-Stakes, the dominance over his peers this juvenile champion schooled by Jason DaCosta Intrestntimesahead, was enhanced when he scored as he liked in the Prince Consort and The Kingston.
However, the railbirds were not enthused by his exercise returns and suggested he could be vulnerable in the Guineas as something seemed to be amiss in his preparation.
Vulnerable to defeat he certainly was!
Out for the third occasion, undefeated California Crown (3-1), also declared by DaCosta was easily the most impressive in the post parade and ran accordingly.
Always going well over the 1600 metres Robert Halledeen, for his third success on the card got the requisite response from the well-grown colt to beat Interestntimesahead (1-5) by just under two lengths. With Provident finishing third, DaCosta saddled the first three to finish in this, the 50th Two Thousand Guineas.
Opening the card was a 1400-metre event for $400,000 claimers and leading rider Tevin Foster, for the first of his two winners, claimed victory aboard Casual Peach (6-5) for trainer Tensang Chung. Robert Halledeen rode his first of three successes aboard Tekapunt (3-5) by a short-head for DaCosta in the day’s third over 1200 metres.
Of late, the top riders can’t seem to stay out trouble with the Operation Stewards and Raddesh Roman had the number of his mount, AKA Storm (5-2), taken down from first for causing “intimidation of and interference with” with 3-5 favourite Whisky in the 1100 metre third event. The race was awarded to Heroine (5-1) ridden by Youville Pinnock for trainer Barrington Bernard.
In race four over 1400 metres, hard knocking maiden Dimetry P (3-5), saddled by Colin Ferguson, secured Foster’s riding double when scoring by just over three lengths.
In race five, Halledeen picked up his second of three in guiding Keffin Murrays Whizz Kidd (6-1) to victory by one and a quarter length over 1600 metres.
Champion Reyan Lewis got his winner in the sixth event aboard Anthony Nunes’ maiden colt Restoration (3-5) over 800 metres. The strapping grey colt who has plenty of scope, won by nearly three lengths and the expectation is for improvement.
Disqualified earlier, Roman got his consolation in race seven over 1820 metres in winning by just over a length, from in front, aboard Mack And Rome (5-2) for trainer Saqlain Roman.
In the nightcap, speedy US-bred four-year-old filly Joy Is Golden (Jordan Barrett) outsprinted her 13 rivals over the 1000 metres of the straight course. Running into the wind from the unfavorable far side post position one, the fleetfooted four-year-old importee was always clear and won by nearly four lengths for conditioner Patrick Lynch.
