As the 2024 jockeys’ title race between Raddesh Roman and Tevin Foster continues, the supporters of the former were noticeably somewhat muted in their support as the latter was aboard the winner of the opening event.
Restoration (7-5), saddled by former three-time champion trainer Anthony Nunes, for the first of a stable double, was three parts of length better than 6/1 bet Adenosine at the end of the four-furlong dash.
Foster inflicted more anxiety on the Roman fan club when 4-5 favourite Six Avenue, saddled by Paul Hylton, was in front by a margin of half a length at the end of the 1400-metre gallop for the purse money of race two.
Foster now had six mounts and Roman five with seven events remaining. However, there was no response from Roman to his rival’s double but was certainly grateful Foster did not revisit the winners’ enclosure.
The dependable and very athletic rider Phillip Parchment had only his 17th winner this season with Pip (8-5), declared by owner/trainer Ricardo Brown, scoring by just short of two lengths in the 1100-metre third event.
Forty minutes later Lil’ Maggie (11-1), ridden by four-kilogramme claimer Akeem Grant, who looked more accomplished than his lack of experience suggests, kept his balance and his nerve to get her home by a half a length in race four over 1100 metres.
It was 17/1 against three-year-old maiden Galopin De Veloz (Oniel Mullings) in the 1300-metre race five but the Ian Parsard schooled colt, starting for only the third time, led early and never looked likely to be overtaken at any stage to secure victory by three lengths in convincing fashion.
Deploying similar front running tactics in race six in running over 1500 metres, She’s Myhedgefund (8-5), saddled by Jason DaCosta and piloted by Victor Sanchez, won by nearly five lengths.
Featured on the programme of nine races was another renewal of the 1200-metre Flossie McNeil Memorial Cup, an event restricted to three-year-old fillies yet to win two races and run as the seventh event.
The 2022 champion jockey Dane Dawkins, who had double success 24 hours earlier, emulated the feat. Firstly, in partnering Francis (1-2) for trainer Richard Azan then winning the 1100-metre nightcap aboard US-bred Noble Attitude (3-1) for conditioner Gary Subratie.
With the 1600-metre Mouttet Mile scheduled for the first Saturday in December, the local debut of invitee Barnaby (USA) in the 1500-metre eighth event could hardly have been more impressive.
Winner of three races in the United States, the well-bred three-year-old colt was bet at 1-5 and assumed the lead 900 metres from the finish. After which he proceeded to canter home 17 lengths clear of his nearest rival clocking an almost unbelievable time of 1:31.0 toting 57 kilogramme.
This closed the Nunes stable double with former six-time champion Omar Walker exerting no effort and in fact, any intervention on his part would have been surplus to requirement.
The gallop established Barnaby (USA) as the firm favourite for the US$250,000 event. The other principal imported invitees have been forewarned but may not be able to do too much about it. Still, it will come down to destiny on the day.
