This second renewal of the Mouttet Mile race day promotion met all expectations comfortably in all respects.
Heavily rotated media advertisements ensured there were a significant number of first-time attendees to witness live horse racing at Caymanas Park. With 154 declarations averaging 14 runners per race there was a guarantee of competitive wagering on all eleven races.
As a spectacle, the 1600-metre event lived up to its billing with horses bred in the United States dominating proceedings. The fractions split 23.2, 46.4 and 1.12.1 to the top of the home stretch of 1200 metres were less frenetic than expected as the early front-running sprinters were heavily restrained to mitigate their stamina limitations.
An attempt by local-based top-rated sprint sensation 7/2 bet and well-weighted Desert Of Malibu (USA) to race from just off the pace was ineffective and so too was Atomica. From three and a half furlongs out, it was obvious that only genuine class and ability to see out the trip at top pace would matter.
Favourite at 8-5 Legacy Isle (USA) led into upper straight and had most, excepting pursuing 7-2 choice Commandant (USA) and 17-1 shot Funcaandun (USA) in trouble. Robert Halledeen induced Funcaandun (USA) to produce the three-year-old colt’s well-established finishing speed to prevail in the final strides by a neck over Legacy Isle (USA).
Saddled by reigning and 2024 champion trainer designate Jason DaCosta, Funcaandun (USA) was the second of two successes for the enigmatic Halledeen, a reinsman whose fans had a lot to shout about when 6-1 shot Milos, saddled by Greg Fennell scored from in front by a half a length in race six-run at 1400 metres.
Although the 1400-metre opening event was staged over 27 minutes beyond the advertised 10:00 am post time, naturally to comply with overseas broadcast requirements the eleventh was under orders and off less than four minutes over the 4:40 pm post time. The first event went to 12-1 bet frontrunner Skyrizi ridden by Phillip Parchment for conditioner Donovan Plummer.
Of the six former champion jockeys including 2023 outgoing Reyan Lewis engaged on the day, Omar Walker, Shane Ellis and Dick Cardenas did not have winning mounts.
In race two Dane Dawkins, the 2022 leading rider, rode Gary Subratie’s maiden colt Blood Moon (8-5) to win the 1100-metre race by over six lengths.
Lewis’ success came in race seven as the 1820-metre stamina test was won by Ian Parsard’s Run Julie Run (1-2) with five and a half lengths to spare.
Kem (3-1), saddled by Paul Swaby for race four over 1500 metres, gave the now Canadian-based three-time champion Dane “Warrior Chief” Nelson the opportunity to remind his fans of his prowess.
The charismatic and highly skilled practitioner returned to the winners’ enclosure following a six-length triumph in the 1300-metre race ten with Patrick Lynch’s Canadian-bred Atlantic Convoy (2-1) confirming Nelson’s double.
The 2019 top rider Christopher Mamdeen got Robert Pearson’s Kaylyn Melody home by a nose at the end of the 1900-metre exertion of race five.
Another winner on the card was Dimetry P (12-1) in race three over 1400 metres saddled by Colin Ferguson and guided by Victor Sanchez.
Then interestingly, as the battle for the 2024 riding honours continued, race eight over 1400 metres went to Anthony Nunes’ Supremasi (6-5) ridden by Tevin Foster to move the rider to 120 winners.
The response from leader and chief rival Raddesh Roman was immediate as race nine, run at 1100 metres and restricted to two-year-old maidens, was won by Rideallday (6-5) for trainer Philip Feanny leaving Foster still three adrift and his left fans with reduced celebratory enthusiasm. Incidentally, Rideallday (USA) was one of five horses owned by Executive Chairman Solomon Sharpe in the 14-runner line-up.
