So far in this season, none of the principal Classic aspirants of either sex has achieved any handicap rating of any significance. In recognition of this fact, the fields for the Futurities have been stacked by a significant number of no-hopers with unrealistic chances of making the frame.
The 1000 and 2000 Guineas each had 15, the St. Leger 14, the Oaks had 11 and the Derby 15. To underscore the paucity of talent, only three colts and four fillies in the cohort have won at least two races. Staged as the tenth and final event, the Jamaica Oaks had a predictable outcome. The former three-time champion and second-generation conditioner, Anthony Nunes, has once again demonstrated his prowess in the timely preparation of Classic contenders.
Linguist, the even money favourite, who was second in the 1000 Guineas and given a prep race by Nunes against older horses one month earlier, was well ridden by 2011 champion Dick Cardenas to outstay rivals over the ten furlongs. With a well-timed effort to lead from the top of the home stretch, Linguist, pursued thereafter by brave Woman In Love (7-2), won by a length and a half, with 5-2 bet Pretty Perfect’s late effort securing third a neck away.
The 2022 champion reinsman, Dane Dawkins, did not get the ideal start with 8-1 fancied Minidewak (8-1) but made steady progress to lead well inside the final furlong for a two-length triumph, giving trainer Marlon Pusey the opener run over five furlongs on the round course. Race three was the traditional Cradle Stakes, for debutant juveniles over three furlongs straight. Dawkins secured a double with the Gary Subratie schooled Salute The Don (7-5), sprinting to a one-length margin of victory.
Race three, over seven furlongs, was won by Princess Talise (5-2), ridden by Shane Richardson for trainer Errol Waugh. Once again, the little mare failed to react alertly and was last leaving her starting gate. However, she mended steadily throughout and scored by just under three lengths.
In race four, run at six and a half furlongs, was won by 1-9 favourite Tigray Express, declared by Peter-John Parsard and guided by champion and runaway leading reinsman Raddesh Roman for the first of yet another of his three-timers this season.
Race five, contested over five and a half furlongs and restricted to maiden fillies three years old, was won in a driving finish by All Together (6-5). The winner, under a good ride by claimer Demar Williams, scored by a half a length. Significantly, this was win number 500 for affable and hard-working second -generation trainer Ryan Darby, whose conduct and professionalism have been nothing short of exemplary.
For race six, trainer Fitznahum Williams turned out, lightly raced The Real Identity (4-5) in unbeatable condition. Having made its debut on April 25 of this year, the five-year-old bay/brown horse, a progeny of Bern Identity, has now won three of six career starts. Ridden by veteran Clive Lynch, The Real Identity was nearly six lengths ahead of his nearest rival at the end of the exertion for six and a half furlongs.
Roman returned to the winners’ enclosure with the Anthony Nunes-trained four-year-old filly Dutchess (8-5), eking out a hard-fought half-a-length margin at the end of the six-furlongs of race seven.
Oil Machine (1-1), a consistent sort, who’s last three runs were second-place finishes by a total of half a length, including two shortheads, inflicted this winning on his nearest rival at the end of the seven-furlong eighth to close Roman’s three-timer.
Predictably, race nine was won by Supernatural Power (3-5), a Philip Feanny-conditioned progressive US-bred three-year-old filly. Veteran Paul Francis assisted her to outsprint her nearest pursuer by just over three lengths.
