KINGSTON, Jamaica - Popular Dane Nelson, currently enjoying a winter break from his riding in Canada, firmly re-established his local presence with an impressive double on the Mouttet Mile race day, Saturday, December 7, 2024.
Nelson's first victory came in the fourth race aboard Kem, trained by Paul Swaby. The second win followed in the tenth race with Atlantic Convoy, conditioned by Patrick Lynch, in the Bruceontheloose Trophy.
Kem, under Nelson's skillful guidance, broke well and strategically positioned himself third early on, trailing behind Babylove (Dick Cardenas) and Natural Dancer (Dane Dawkins). As the field approached the half-mile mark, Kem fell back to fifth place. However, Nelson demonstrated patience, waiting for the ideal moment to launch his attack.
That moment came as they approached the final stretch. Kem accelerated, weaving through the field, and in deep stretch, took command. Nelson's expert handling allowed Kem to maintain a strong gallop to the line, finishing 2 ½ lengths ahead in a time of 1:34.0 for the 7 ½ furlongs. Huntsman (Christopher Mamdeen) secured second place, with Lion Charmer (Shane Richardson) in third.
Nelson's win aboard Atlantic Convoy further showcased his well-known skills. He raced primarily along the inside rails from the start in the 6 ½-furlong race, as Money Market (Dick Cardenas) and Sensational Move (Raddesh Roman) battled for supremacy at the front.
Keeping Atlantic Convoy within striking distance, Nelson entered the straight in fourth place. The pivotal moment came with about a furlong to go when he expertly manoeuvered through a narrow gap between Sensational Move on the inside and Money Market in mid-track.
After successfully navigating that tight space, Atlantic Convoy surged ahead to win by six lengths, clocking a time of 1:18.4.
