In race one over five furlongs round, the perpetuation of the overmatching of horses resulting in a disproportionate number of races presenting odds-on favourites and therefore underperforming as sales units continues unabated.
T Brady (1-2), saddled by Peter-John Parsard, in winning, was the opening leg of yet another riding triple for current champion and 2025 designate Raddesh Roman following a romp of over six lengths.
Claimer Richie Shakes, with 25 wins, in a continuing battle with Demar Williams on 28, for the champion apprentice title this season, rode Norman Smith’s Big Argument (3-1) to a victory margin of a length and a half over the five furlongs round of race two. However, here would be an emphatic response from his chief rival later on the nine-race programme.
It is congratulations to Dane McKenzie, reportedly a grandson of the legendary David “Scorcher” McKenzie and one of the 2024 graduates of the Jamaica Racing Commission Riding School. For the first win of his career. He was aboard Rock-Ola (1-5) for trainer Valbert Marlowe in scoring by a distance of eight lengths at the end of the six-and-a-half-furlong contest of race three.
The first response from Williams to Shakes came in race four with the opener of a riding double. Engaged by trainer Patrick Lynch, the accomplished apprentice had to be at his best to deliver the win. Royal Maverick (7-2) was only a head better than the 20/1 shot Humility at the end of the six-furlong exertion after a tactical move to challenge on the far rails inside the final 200 yards.
It was a signal moment for Lynch known as ‘Wackie’, as with the victory by Royal Maverick allowed Lynch to enter the exclusive club of winning 500 races.
In contrast to 24 hours ago, with past champion Dane Dawkins tallying four wins, Roman two, and Cardenas one on the ten-race programme, there were more opportunities available for other riders.
Oniel Scott, on his ninth mount and second winner this year, guided Monster Vigorous (7-2) to a five-and-a-half-length victory over the eight furlongs of race five for trainer Rowan Mathie.
This was followed by Coalition (6-5) being nearly four lengths clear at the finish of the five-furlong-straight sixth event with claimer Garvin Harris, competently executing the requisite skills of riding for trainer Dale Murphy. Race seven over five furlongs round, saw Williams’ second and decisive answer to Shakes on the day. Don Kwesi (7-2) wore down leader 1-5 favourite T Swizzle (USA) inside the last 200 yards for trainer Barrington Bernard’s ninth success from 54 starts this season.
As the US-bred horses continue to compete at the hugely advantageous weight allotment, US-bred four-year-old colt Goodbye Firefly (3-5), declared by Spencer Chung, ensured a runaway of over seven lengths on the short sprint over five furlongs straight to confirm Roman’s second of his three on the day.
Featured on the programme, and staged as race nine, was another renewal of the nine furlongs and 25 yards Kenneth Mattis Memorial to honour the contribution of one of Jamaica’s greatest horsemen, with seven training titles and nearly 350 wins as a rider, most of which came when there were fewer than fifty race meetings annually.
What was showcased was the return to convincing winning form of the talented five-year-old horse Mojito (5-2), saddled by Richard Azan to score by over nine lengths for Roman’s third win from his four mounts on the card. Following this impressive Overnight Allowance success, the big grey, if weighted fairly, looks capable of competing with the best at the higher levels again.
