Featured on the programme of ten races and staged as the eighth, the 48th renewal of the seven-furlong Philip Feanny OD Gold Cup recognized the exploits of the former 14-time champion trainer.
The island’s top-rated campaigner and 2025 Horse-of -the-Year, Rideallday (USA), saddled by the great trainer himself, scored by a length at odds of 2-5, with Ian Spence executing the riding honours expertly to deliver victory by one length in the Graded Stakes event.
The ninth event, the seven-furlong Overnight Allowance Kilowatt Trophy, went to US-bred six-year-old mare Royal Poppy (9-5), for her first win locally from four appearances. Saddled by Gary Subratie and ridden by two-time and reigning champion Raddesh Roman.
Royal Poppy (USA) won the seven-furlong gallop by 2½ lengths in workmanlike style to suggest that there will be more success before her retirement.
Interestingly, imported from England, Kilowatt, who this race is honouring, won the Gold Cup in 1967, repeated the feat in 1968, was an injured late non-starter in 1969, but remarkably won again in 1970.
Form players were treated to a good start, with 3-5 favourite Sonador, guided by the 2022 champion Dane Dawkins for trainer Stedman Curtis, controlling the pace of the four-furlong Maiden Special Weight opening for three-year-olds to dash in by just over three lengths.
Short-priced Giving Thanks (1-2), conditioned by Feanny, for the first of a stable double, was third in the eight-furlong 1000 Guineas, second in the Jamaica Oaks, but was successful on her return to sprinting. Ridden by Bebeto Harvey, Giving Thanks won the Restricted Allowance third event run on the five-furlong straight course for three-year-olds with less than two wins. The victory margin of 5½ lengths was entirely convincing, suggesting progress.
Race three, a Restricted Stakes for non-winners of four races, was dominated by US-bred Pepper Stepper (1-2), partnered by Robert Halledeen, to score by three lengths and one quarter on the five-furlong round course. The speedy imported three-year-old colt was declared by Jason Dacosta to make all the running.
In race four, Adrian Prince’s Playfair (7-5) was piloted to victory by 2023 leading reinsman Reyan Lewis to open a riding double. The five-year-old bay horse, a progeny of Sensational Slam, returned with a winning margin of nearly four lengths.
In race five, for $200k claimers, C W Treasure (8-1), under the guidance of Shane Richardson for trainer Patrick Taylor, arrived in the final stride to score by a head over 1-5 favourite Drone Strike in the six-furlong contest.
Race six went to My Friend Micki (6-1), ridden by claimer Shaheen Gordon for trainer Gary Griffiths. The diminutive progeny of Savoy Stomp, after seizing the initiative two furlongs out, was gamely a neck better than its nearest of nine rivals.
Eight-year-old gelding Sir John (6-5) found a 14th career victory in his 89th start, an easy assignment with an eleven-length romp over the seven furlongs of race seven. Declared by owner/trainer Donovan Thompson, Sir John was ridden by Phillip Parchment.
To close the programme Khaleesi (3-5), declared by owner/trainer Carlton Cunningham, had her rivals in trouble inside the first furlong as she took command this early. Unchallenged for the first six of the seven-furlong Restricted Allowance for horses four years and older, Khaleesi skated home by five lengths for Reyan Lewis to confirm his second trip to the winners’ enclosure on the day.
