What do the years 1946 to 1952, 1954, 1959 and 1961 have in common?
These were the 10 racing seasons in Jamaica when Arthur Jones wore the mantle of champion jockey. With the great jockey being the first titlist, on this the 65th anniversary of Caymans racing, it was indeed a fitting occasion for promoting company Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment Limited to stage the 19th renewal of the Arthur Jones Memorial Cup.
With 19 declarations it presented the Racing Office with the opportunity to programme the 1200-metre event in two divisions.
The strongly built Canadian bred Atlantic Convoy (3-1) improved from among the early back markers to challenge long-time leader Sensational Move (3-5) inside the last 100 metres successfully.
This gave the Patrick Lynch conditioned four-year-old chestnut colt a four and a half-length advantage in Division One run as the ninth.
Division Two was staged as the tenth and closing event with Paul Francis executing the riding honours aboard Fearless Soul (5-2) to improve the win statistics of the Philip Feanny outfit.
The victory by Atlantic Convoy (CAN), the second of his riding double for 2023 champion Reyan Lewis, who also partnered maiden Papa Gray (3-5), trained by Barrington Dawes to overwhelm six rivals in the 1400-metre fourth race with a romp exceeding 11 lengths. .
Champion Lewis was not the only one to be in the winners’ enclosure twice as the feat was matched by two-kilogramme claimer Shane Richardson, who scored by more than three lengths aboard Stanislaus (7-2), trained by Delroy Wisdom for the 1000 metres straight gallop of the opening event.
Richardson, the 2020 valedictorian at the Jamaica Racing Commission Jockey School graduation, secured his double with the Errol Waugh declared Antarctica (6-1). Sired by Savoy Stomp, the four-year-old bay colt was always clear of five rivals to score by nearly six lengths in race eight run at 1500 metres.
First time title seekers Tevin Foster and Raddesh Roman, the chief protagonists vying for 2024 riding honours began the day on 84 and 79 winners respectively. Roman responded to Foster’s 1600-metre third race success aboard Burning Valor for trainer Gregg Fennel with only one winner on the day.
This came in the form of Dream Worrior (6-5) in the 1500-metre race five. However, Foster made sure of a double aboard with the Carlton Cunningham maiden Adira 3-5 scoring by over 11 lengths in race six over 1300 metres.
Oshane Nugent had the Michael Marlowe maiden entrant Never (4-1) in front for the entire distance of 1820 metres in race seven for victory by two lengths and a quarter. With the departure of Josue Osorio, Jason DaCosta has secured a riding permit for another Panamanian.
Victor Sanchez, listed by Equibase web site list as riding a single winner in Florida but although the statistics from his native land is not yet available, he looks an accomplished enough rider. Sanchez deployed enterprising tactics in winning his first local opportunity on Jamaica Oaks runner-up Rosetta (7-5) for leading conditioner Jason DaCosta in race two over 1600 metres.
