KINGSTON, Jamaica – The cheers were not there yesterday (March 17) but certainly Toona Ciliata was and at his very best.
Rated as the third best racer in the land, Toona Ciliata put away arch three-year-old rival of last year Sentient and others with disdain to win the 7 ½ furlong King’s Plate feature at a spectator-less Caymanas Park yesterday (Tuesday, March 17).
Ridden by Linton Steadman for champion trainer Anthony Nunes, Toona Ciliata, racing for the first time since December of last year, watched in close touch as stable companion Graydon (Dane Dawkins) went in front followed by Sentient (Chris Mamdeen).
Leaving the three-furlong marker all three horses were close but near to entering the last two-furlong drive, it was all Toona Ciliata, who won in a time 1:33.1.
Crimson (Anthony Thomas) ran on for second with Sentient third.
The winning margins were 2 ½ lengths by a head.
The win by Toona Ciliata gave trainer Nunes his second on the day, having scored earlier with Let Him Fly.
