A Restricted Allowance V for four-year-olds and upwards, for horses with fewer than two wins eligible, was run over the seven-furlong course.
To open a riding double Tajay Suckoo, aboard Round The Twist (5-1), had the Shackleford colt ahead by two and a half lengths in front at the line, to give Colin Elcock, who is also the owner, a lifetime memory; it was his first career win since taking out a trainer’s permit days ago.
In a mere formality, Anthony Nunes’ Luna Eclipse (1-5) won the Maiden Special Weight confined to juveniles. With former six-time champion jockey Omar Walker at the reins, it was a margin of 8 ½ lengths clear of the nearest of only four rivals at the end of race two, contested across the five-furlong round course.
Race three, run as the featured Overnight Allowance Errol “Big Sub” Subratie Memorial Trophy went to Gallant Groom (USA), the 3-5 favourite in a romp of over 25 lengths at the eight-furlong trip. Ridden by Tevin Foster, it was the first of three on the day for the title-chasing reinsman, and the opening leg of a triple for trainer Jason DaCosta, the four-time and reigning champion.
For the DaCosta/Foster combination, Money Monster (4-5) won race four run for $500,000 claimers by one length over the 7 ½ furlongs trip to confirm double success.
In race five, Dane Dawkins, the 2022 titlist, had very little to do aboard Robert Pearson’s filly She’s Ideal (4-1), the absolute best by 14½ lengths in the Maiden Condition for three-year-olds over the 7 ½ - furlong trip.
At the end of race six, a Restricted Stakes for three-year-old sprinters with less than four career wins, DaCosta and Foster to celebrate triple success, were back in the winner’s circle to underscore another successful day.
Eye of the Tiger (2-1) sprinted gamely to turn back all the challenges in battling to a winning margin of a half a length over the straight course.
Trained by Lawrence Freemantle, Life Is Life (7-2), scored by a length and a half in race seven for $700,000 claimers under the guidance of apprentice Eric Haughton over the seven-furlong trip for a well-earned opener of a riding double.
Haughton’s closer came in race eight, with Rapida, bet at odds of 5-2, coming home three lengths clear in the event confined to five-year-olds and upwards with less than two wins. Dean Cooper, also the owner of Rapida, was saddling his first winner since joining the cohort of trainers.
The Restricted Allowance IV over 5 ½ furlongs for horses four years and older yet to win three races was the closing event. Tajay Suckoo, in securing his two-timer, had the Peter-John Parsard-conditioned Never Despair (2-1) in front all the way for a scoreline of nearly two lengths.
