Following the excitement of the previous 24 hours generated by the 98th staging of the 2000-metre St. Leger, it was entirely understandable the day’s card with only 71 declarations would pale in comparison to what prevailed then.
With leading conditioner Jason DaCosta and top rider Tevin Foster dominating with four winners each, including combining to win this Classic with champion Interestntimesahead, this race day was one of the most memorable on many levels.
Incidentally Foster, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Wednesday of last week during the passage of Hurricane Beryl, was having his first taste of Classic success. It was a nice touch to see the rider accompanied by his two very young daughters in the winners’ enclosure.
Further, in his post-race interview, Foster expressed confidence in Interestntimesahead’s ability to stay the distance of the 2400-metre Jamaica Derby.
Back now to this quiet Monday afternoon, it came as no surprise to this writer that Wayne’s Princess (14-1) thoroughly outstayed her rivals to score by over eight lengths in 1820 -metre opener.
Saddled by Gary Griffiths, the four-year-old bay filly, restricted to sprinting prior but whose conformation and breeding suggested effectiveness over a distance of ground relished the smooth riding style of reinsman Youville Pinnock.
Owned and trained by Ricardo Brown, improving two-kilogramme claimer Shane Richardson had Life Is Life (9-2) in front immediately the gates opened for the 1400-metre gallop of race two and never at any stage looked likely to be overtaken to score by seven lengths.
In the absence of the last five former champions (Shane Ellis, Dane Nelson Christopher Mamdeen, Anthony Thomas, Dane Dawkins) riding in North America not only Richardson but other claiming jockeys namely Richard Henry, Ramon Nepare and Shavon Townsend are improving with far more opportunities available.
In race three, title chasing jockey Raddesh Roman rode the first of a four-timer aboard Bold Move (9-1) with the Gary Subratie schooled colt sprinting clear throughout to score by nearly three lengths over the distance of 1200 metres.
In race four, there was a near four-length margin of victory with Spencer Chung’s promising US - imported three-year-old colt Commander Z at a similar trip with champion Reyan Lewis the rider.
Roman’s four-time assault on the nine-race card was paused for races five, six and seven. In the former contested by $750,000 claimers over 1000 metres straight went 4-5 bet Special Gift ridden by Townsend for trainer Marlon Brown.
In the 1300-metre latter, Hedge Craft (4-5) won by one and a half lengths to get trainer Welsh Soutar’s season off the mark from 20 declarations. Shane Ellis on working holiday from his Canadian engagement executed the riding honours.
For race seven over 1820 metres, it was a resumption of the Raddesh Roman four-star extravaganza with the Phillip Elliott -trained three-year-old maiden colt Oil Machine (3-2) running away by 26 and a half lengths for the rider’s second.
Races eight and nine over 1820 and 1400 metres were won by Neo Star (2-1) and US-bred Major Danger (4-5) saddled by Peter-John Parsard and Philip Feanny respectively.
This Roman four-timer at the halfway point of the season still left him on 62 wins 10 adrift of the leading Tevin Foster.
However, the Roman supporters are still very optimistic this may be nothing for him to brush aside.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Peter-John Parsard for the return to form of five-year-old utero-foaled Neo Star, who is deserving of the Best Winning Gallop under top to weight. For his four-timer Raddesh Roman gets the Jockeyship Award for the variety skills exhibited.
