Anyone involved in horse racing understands that uncertainty is part of the sport.
This truth was exemplified on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Caymanas Park, where two separate races presented moments of unpredictability that had a direct impact on the results.
The eighth race set the tone for an eventful afternoon, beginning with the withdrawal of pre-race favourite Fred The Great. In his absence, Unruly Mo, trained by Oral Hayden, surged to the front and dictated the pace under veteran jockey Shane “The Canterman” Ellis.
Unruly Mo fought off a strong challenge in the final two furlongs from Girvano, with Raddesh Roman in the irons, with Unruly Mo eventually crossing the finish line a head in front.
However, the race day stewards called an inquiry into an incident close to the furlong marker, where Unruly Mo was ruled to have caused intimidation and interference. As a result, Unruly Mo was disqualified, awarding Girvano and Roman the victory.
Later in the tenth race, another unexpected turn of events unfolded. Apprentice rider Tajay Suckoo gave a bold front-running effort aboard Shoamithebutcher, holding off a strong challenge from Cosmic Force, again ridden by Roman. The initial margin of victory—1 ¾ lengths by 7 ¾ lengths—appeared decisive, but the stewards intervened once more.
Following a review by the stewards, Shoamithebutcher was demoted, and the win was awarded to Cosmic Force, trained by Steven Todd.
This rare sequence of events saw Roman as the beneficiary of two disqualifications in a single race meet, an uncommon occurrence in the world of horse racing. It was a day that underscored the unpredictable nature of the sport, where fortunes can shift in an instant.
