After a three-length defeat by Interestntimesahead in the 2000-metre Jamaica St Leger, in a pre-race interview, former two-time champion Shane Ellis (2000 & 2015) was confident that in the 104th staging of the 2400-metre Jamaica Derby his mount Crown Chaser would reverse the placings. The reality turned out to be more than prophetic!
With Crown Chaser (5-2) held up behind the front runners, Ellis executed a master class of judgement of pace and tactical acumen by exploiting a narrow gap on the far rails to wear down game long-time leader Run Julie Run (7-1) by a half a length inside the last 50 metres.
This secured trainer Anthony Nunes’s sixth Derby success with four all guided by Ellis. Favourite at odds of 4-5, the St Leger hero Interestntimesahead held every chance 400 metres out but failed to see out the distance for an almost 15-length fourth place finish to disappoint connections and backers.
In the opening event on the programme of eleven races, Rani Bangala (1-1), well drilled by second generation conditioner Robert Pearson and declared to compete in claiming company for the first time, was backed with confidence.
Replacing Robert Halledeen, visiting US-based reinsman Jieron Barbosa’s well timed late challenge secured five-year-old mare’s victory by half a length. over 1300 metres.
Race two over 1100 metres ended in a predictable runaway for trainer Philip Feanny’s US imported filly Unbelievable Force (3-5). Raddesh Roman, for the first of a riding double, tried his best to win by less than the official margin of nine and a half lengths for the opening of a stable double as well.
Angel Cruz, another of the US-based visiting jockeys, had 4-5 second favourite Immeasurable Joy (UTERO) in front all the way over the 1400 metres of race three to open the first of the Anthony Nunes stable double.
The influence of the United States bred thoroughbreds continued in race four with Spencer Chung’s Goodbye Firefly (1-1) dominating the 1400-metre gallop by just over 13 lengths. There was even more success for the US importees in race ten, run at 1500 metres, with 2-1 shot Major Danger confirming the double success of a Feanny/Roman collaboration.
Leading rider Tevin Foster had his single success on the day with victory by maiden filly Social Mischief (3-5), saddled by Robert Pearson for the straight 1000 metres exertion of race five.
In race six, Super Alex (2-1) got home by a head with the full skill set of Aaron Chatrie’s jockeyship required to deny Roman aboard 7-2 choice Huntsman and set up a riding double.
Ellis also executed a distinguished riding double on the day, this opened by Hedge Craft (2-1) saddled by veteran Welsh Soutar in the contest over 1000 metres of the straight course for a one length margin of victory in race seven.
Over a similar trip for race eight, Oniel Mullings, for the first of his riding double, kept the Donovan Thompson declared Mrs Lyndhurst (6-1) in front all the way to beat 4-5 favourite Box Box (USA) by nearly three lengths.
Mullings’ double was confirmed with Princess Akilah (9-2) leading all the way to earn a near four-length success over the 1200 metres of race nine for trainer Lawrence Freemantle.
With Anthony Nunes saddling two of first three to finish in the Derby, he is unchallenged for the Training Feat Award. Crown Chaser is recognised for the Best Winning Gallop accolade in timely display of speed, stamina and courage.
The Jockeyship Award is presented to Ellis for his excellent tactical application in response to the exacting challenge to win the race for the seventh occasion.
For Ellis, a second-generation reinsman, it was Awesome Power 2001, followed by Typewriter 2012, then for Nunes, Relampago 2014, Orpheus 2016 and Supreme Soul in a 2019 Triple Crown success and Calculus in 2021 for Gary Subratie.
Ellis has been sustaining the legacy of his dad Winston, who won the event in 1964 and 1967 and was a three-time riding titlist.
