Trevor “Slicer” Simpson OD, in whose honour the featured Overnight Allowance event as race nine was run, is a five-time Caymanas Park champion jockey and the holder of the record for most wins in a season when claiming the 2002 title with 172 wins.
By 2016 Simpson had ridden 1489 winners locally and in mainly practicing his profession in Canada and the United States he has added another 557.
The great 55-year-old reinsman was on hand to appreciate the accolades and tributes arranged by the promoting company SVREL.
Having won its last race by nearly eight lengths easing down in a time of 1:05.4 for five and a half furlongs with 126 pounds, 2024 Two Thousand Guineas winner California Crown was gifted with only 117 for the Trevor Simpson Trophy over five furlongs round. The progressive four-year-old colt conditioned by champion Jason DaCosta led easily and won by two and a half lengths at odds of 1-2 toting an extra two pounds for the services of Robert Halledeen.
The opener, contested by a field nine over seven furlongs, saw the return to form of Green Gold Rush (2-1). Declared by Dalton Sirjue, ridden by 2022 champion Dane Dawkins and running from well off the pace, Green Gold Rush, an eight-year-old bay gelding sired by Adore The Gold, produced a strong late run inside the last furlong to prevail over 6-1 shot Sir John by a half a length.
Reigning champion Raddesh Roman rode the first winner of a double with Gary Subratie’s lightly raced four-year-old bay colt Justin Bigtime (10-1). For the second success in only seven race course appearances, the four-year-old bay colt was in front immediately and never at any stage looked likely to be overtaken, eventually scoring by three and a half lengths at the six-furlong trip.
Race three over the five-furlong straight course, a maiden event restricted to horses four-year-olds and older, Miss Coupersland (2-1) schooled by Phillip Lee secured the minimum victory margin of a nose only discernable by the sophisticated photo finish apparatus. Recent Jamaica Racing Commission Riding School (JRCRS), for his fourth career success, Richie Shakes executed the riding assignment smartly to defeat 4-5 favourite Gelroy (Richard Henry) in the five furlongs straight gallop.
In race four, winner Lady Babita (7-2) was ridden by Tevin Foster, for the first of a riding double. He probably still can’t come to terms with the fact that in riding 132 winners in 2024, to enjoy one of the best seasons of any jockey in Caymanas Park’s history, he is not at least joint champion. This by only one less than his rival Raddesh Roman with 133.
Lady Babita, a three-year maiden filly saddled by recent licensee Matthew Williams, scored by just under two lengths over the maximum straight course.
As the JRCRS graduates continue to attract competitive mounts, Shayne Martin handled 5-2 bet Buzz Assault with confidence to win the fifth event run down the five straight chute by nearly two lengths for trainer Ryan Williams’ second success of the season.
In race six, Roman confirmed his riding double aboard Adrian Prince’s Tigray Express (3-5) by leading the field from four furlongs out to win the seven-eighths trip by just over one length.
Following race seven, another JRCRS graduate in the form of Romane Gordon was in the winners’ enclosure aboard Spencer Chung’s James, who won the six-and-a-half-furlong trip by nearly four lengths.
Then in race eight, Foster closed his two-timer in guiding First Offense (6-1), trained by Steven Todd, to victory by three lengths and a quarter over the five furlongs round trip.
The Training Feat Award is presented to third generation horseman Steven Todd for presenting eighth race winner First Offense in condition to show its best form. The colt has only a seven-length third placing in its last ten appearances and is difficult to train but raced genuinely enough to execute the Best Winning Gallop. Richie Shakes is deserving of the Jockeyship Award for his performance aboard Miss Coupersland in the close finish of race three.
