On Sunday, June 7, 2026, Caymanas Park witnessed one of the more telling achievements in thoroughbred training, the return of a horse from a career-threatening injury straight into the winners’ enclosure. That feat belonged to conditioner Peter-John Parsard and his charge, Never Despair, who defied the odds and the long layoff to capture a maiden condition race over four furlongs.
Absent from competitive racing for 16 months, Never Despair’s comeback was nothing short of remarkable. Under a confident and composed ride from Jemar Jackson, the bay colt broke sharply, shook off the rust, and asserted his class. He drew off by a length and a quarter, stopping the clock at 49.4 seconds. Moonlight Song, partnered by Richie Shakes, chased valiantly but had to settle for second, while Super Storm and Bebeto Harvey rounded off the frame.
Parsard, visibly relieved and proud, reflected on the journey: “He hasn’t raced in about a year and a half. He was a really talented horse, and we had big hopes for him in the Classics last year. Unfortunately, he suffered a really bad injury. It took us a lot of time, and it took the owners a lot of patience, to get him through the ailments. Thank God he is fully healthy now.”
The trainer was quick to highlight the role of Jackson, whose partnership with Never Despair extended well beyond raceday. “Credit to the jockey — he rode a good race here. But more than that, he has been working the horse diligently for about six months. I was very glad to see him able to get the job done on him.”
Parsard’s confidence in the horse’s ability was evident, even as he acknowledged the limitations of a comeback run. “The horse ran beautifully. He was short of work, so we are hoping he will have a little more scope as he progresses. I was fairly confident he was going to win. I knew he might be a little short in the end, but thankfully he was able to get the job done.”
