The opening 1600-metre event on the eight-race Emancipation Day card, a traditionally well attended race day, was won by favourite Tigeramedat (USA) trained by Stephen Chung for victory at odds of 3-5.
Maiden US-bred Tigeramedat’s late run was good enough for victory by a length and was the first of three on the card for Roman. This result was perfect for the title-chasing reinsman Raddesh Roman, who on 71 winners started the day seven behind archrival Tevin Foster.
As both seek their first title, interestingly and unusually, either will be the seventh champion crowned in the last two decades following Omar Walker, Shane Ellis, Dane Nelson, Anthony Thomas, Christopher Mamdeen, Dane Dawkins.
Foster’s first of two responses was only half an hour away. He was aboard the Jason DaCosta schooled Miss Moneypenny (1-5) a five and a half-length winner of the 600-metre second event. This was the first 2024 seasonal opportunity for two-year-olds.
With odds of 3-5, Thunderstrike saddled by Alfred Davidson for race three over 1400 metres, came home nearly three lengths clear of her nearest rival with two-kilo claiming jockey Shane Richardson at the reins.
In race four, run at 1000 metres, it was 9-2 against Paul Swaby’s US -bred filly Grecian Light (Shane Ellis), but a turn of late finishing speed took her past the frontrunners for a victory by just over one length.
Race five was a maiden event over 1200 metres and based on his two previous performances it was effectively a gift for the Jasson DaCosta conditioned Captain Fantastic (2-5), thus giving Foster the closing leg of his riding double by four and a half lengths.
In race six, champion jockey Reyan Lewis was replaced by Roman aboard 8-5 bet Cruzinn Again to confirm the riding double. The four-year-old maiden colt led the 1200-metre event and held on by a neck to give the stable of Ricardo Mathie win number five this season.
Winner of the seventh and feature event Wall Street Trader (USA), in this another renewal the 1100-metre Betting, Gaming & Lotteries Commission Trophy scored by over 11 lengths for Roman’s third. Saddled by Rohan Mathie, dad of Ricardo, the strapping five-year-old horse started at odds of 1-5 to close the son and father double.
In race eight, over 1000 metres of the straight course, consistent six-year-old gelding Conundrum (Phillip Parchment) won by over four lengths at 6-1 for trainer Marlon Pusey.
