American-bred Titan Tempo, the 6-5 favourite for the $700,000 claimers, was the first of nine events on the card for the Sunday programme.
The distance of seven furlongs, with all nine nominations declared, was seemingly ideal for the five-year-old horse, as Titan Tempo (USA), who was in front and on the bridle from the opening strides.
The American importee did not relinquish any of the early advantage and won by nearly four lengths for trainer Carlton Cunningham. Shane Richardson, who should be given far more opportunities, claimed the riding honours he deserved.
Sonny T And Chippy (3-5), out for its 49th racecourse appearance, duly registered victory number 12 at the seven furlongs of race two for claimers with a maximum tag of $1.5 million. Ridden by two-time and reigning champion Raddesh Roman for trainer Oral Hayden, Sonny T And Chippy led and held on by just under one length for the rider’s only success from eight rides on the card,
Race three, a Restricted Allowance V for four-year-olds & upwards staged on the five-furlong straight course, went to the Dalton Sirjue owned and trained Humility (9-2), with apprentice Garvin Harris the winning rider, who has also demonstrated the promise of the cohort of 2024 graduates of the Jamaica Racing Commission Riding School.
In race four, Alyia’s Will (8-5), first run since finishing fourth in the 1000 Guineas on June 6, five months ago, was tuned for a winning run by former three-time champion Anthony Nunes to land the opener of a stable double. Leading apprentice Tajay Suckoo induced a burst of finishing speed from Aliya’s Will to take the lead late inside the last furlong to score by a length and a quarter. This suggests she will be even more effective over trips exceeding the five furlongs of this Divided Restricted Allowance for three-year-old fillies, who were non-winners of two races.
Division II for the fillies went to 18-1 shot My Friend Micki, declared by Gary Griffiths to score by a length. A Savoy Stomp-bred bay, she benefited from a smart performance in the stirrups by apprentice Shaheem Gordon, who had a double 24 hours earlier and so far, has tallied 18 winners this season.
The Nunes stable double was confirmed in race six, a $350,000 claiming event over the five-furlong straight course with Cosmic Force (9-5), a near two-length winner with apprentice Romane Gordon at the reins.
Race seven, the featured Menudo Trophy over nine furlongs and 25 yards, was won by Oil Machine (3-1), with former six-time champion Omar Walker executing the tactical approach of trainer Philip Elliott to defeat 1-5 favourite Neo Star (Raddesh Roman) by one and a half lengths.
Leading reinsman Tevin Foster had an easy success for the opener of his riding double with Chances Are (4-5), conditioned by Owen Sharpe to close a stable double, winning the Maiden Condition ninth event for three-year-olds by over seven lengths.
Title-chasing Foster had an infinitely more exacting task aboard Carl Anderson’s Alkebulan (6-1) and executed it by a win margin of just over one length. This, in the closing event for five-year-olds and upwards with fewer than four wins and staged over the 5 ½-furlongs course.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Anthony Nunes for the run of Aliya’s Will to score over a journey clearly short of her optimum requirement and delivering the Best Winning Gallop in the process. Given the competitiveness of race four, the degree of difficulty to overcome gives Tajay Suckoo the Jockeyship Award for his tactical confidence aboard Aliya’s Will.
