Two-time (2024-25) and reigning champion Raddesh “The Sneaky Fox” Roman answered his critics with a four-timer on the programme of ten races.
Truth be told, the accomplished reinsman has not been given any latitude by those who choose to support his chief protagonists, 2022 titlist Dane Dawkins and Tevin Foster.
In recent times, Roman’s critics and detractors have been uncompromising in their opinions of the riding tactics of “The Sneaky Fox,” especially when he doesn’t deliver in the close finishes.
Be that as it may, Roman’s handling of 4-5 favourite Battle Angel, trained by Anthony Nunes, for the opener of a stable triple was exemplary in delivering victory by a half a length over the seven furlongs of the opening event with a late and well-timed challenge.
Second-generation conditioner Ryan Darby had an unusual and extremely rare thrill. In the second, run at seven and a half furlongs, his two entries, Oh My Gosh (10-1) and US-bred Bubblingbrownsugar (2-1), ridden by Demar Williams, for the first of a double, and veteran Rudolph “Yellow” Paige respectively, finished in a dead heat for first.
While Williams was the 2025 champion apprentice, no one could recall the year in which the affable and popular “Yellow” last rode a winner.
Roman’s second came in race three with Phillip Elliott’s Indestructible (8-5) scoring by one and a half lengths over the five and a half furlongs sprint trip.
Race four was won by frontrunner Good Conscience (3-1), saddled by a second-generation horseman, Robert Pearson, for Tevin Foster’s fan club to savour the first of his riding triple with a three-and-a-half margin of victory.
At the end of race five, run over the full straight course, Roman was back in the winners’ enclosure as Radam (4-5) scored by one length to confirm the second for Nunes, a three-time former champion and a second-generation conditioner.
Speaking of second-generation horsemen, race eight went US -bred Ricoricorico (2-5), declared four-time and reigning champion Jason DaCosta, with apprentice Shaheen Gordon performing the riding honours for a four-length success running over five furlongs straight.
Forty-five minutes later, over four and a half furlongs of race six, Foster, for his second, was also back in the winner’s enclosure with 27/1 shot Briscoe, saddled by Andre Adams, three and a half lengths the winner.
Foster’s triple-closing effort came aboard four-year-old maiden colt Black Ringo (9-5), saddled by veteran Barrington Dawes to win by just over seven lengths.
In race nine over the full straight course, the Roman four-timer and Nunes’ stable triple were confirmed by three-year-old maiden colt Rockhampton (9-1). A progeny of Wow Wow, the victory was delivered in a somewhat game effort to best nine rivals, including runner-up Eye Of The Tiger (1-5), trained by DaCosta.
The featured Linval McFarlane Trophy, over six and a half furlongs for Overnight Allowance campaigners, was secured in a seven-length romp by 4-5 favourite Don Kwesi, in closing the Williams riding double.
One Response
a piece of history with ryan darby having two horses of the same barn dead-heat is rare..i remember it was also done years ago by laurie silvera in 1960,with jockeys a.jones and apprentice carl baker .