KINGSTON, Jamaica - FIRST run 62 years ago at Caymanas Park, the now-traditional 1200-metre Knutsford Park Cup was the event featured on the day’s ten-race promotion.
Formerly restricted to two-year-olds and run at 1200 metres, four decades ago it was usually staged in the month of December, attracting some of the highest-rated juveniles. The stipulated condition for eligibility now is for colts, geldings and fillies foaled in 2019 and yet to win two races.
Nomoredeals (Paul Francis) trained by Gresford Smith showed prominence in the early Futurities against the best of his peers. On that basis the well-built chestnut colt was installed as the 4-5 favourite but never galloped well at any stage, ending up fourth from last. On the other hand, 5-1-shot Buzz City Light led and had all his rivals in trouble throughout to arrive home nearly five lengths superior. Trained by Jason DaCosta, the winner looks a progressive sprinter — and champion jockey Anthony Thomas could have extended the win margin significantly if he had so chosen.
Aaron “Iceman” Chatrie, riding the first of two winners, must have been a little surprised that Sweet Medicine (2-1), saddled by David Lee Sin, won the opener run (over 1200 metres) by 13½ lengths. The “Iceman” was able to confirm his second trip to the winners’ enclosure in the 1500-metre fifth race and would have been surprised again, but this time at the 10-1 odds. Uncle Frank, now eight years old but still having plenty of ability left, was turned out in immaculate form by conditioner Patrick Fong to score by almost three lengths.
Prince Consort Stakes winner and 2000 Guineas third-place holder Emperorofthecats showed no ill effects from his exertion over the 2000 metres of the St Leger eight days prior. Held up third behind dueling front-runners, the consistent gelding — bred, owned, and trained by Carl Anderson — won by just over five lengths with very little persuasion from former two-time champion reinsman Shane Ellis.
In the 1400-metre third event, pursued from 1100 metres out by 6-5 favourite Better Best (USA), front-running Expeditious with two-kilo-claiming lightweight jockey Ramon Nepare, always travelled just the better to increase a safe lead for trainer Marlon Anderson so as to register win number six — this time by 5½ lengths at odds of 10-1.
Aptly named Persistent One (8-1), with Samantha Fletcher at the reins this horse was just that in wearing down front-runner Buzz Assault (Odeen Edwards). Saddled by Donovan Plummer and starting at odds of 6-1, the five-year-old bay mare won in a driving finish by a half-length in securing the fourth race contested by horses five years old and upwards over the maximum trip of the 1000-metre straight course.
In race six, trainer Ray Phillips’s speedy gelding Vanquisher, going off at odds of 5-1, led and just escaped the finishing rush of the chasing pack to score by a neck. Ridden by two-kilo-claiming jockey Matthew Bennett, the winner won by a neck with the second runner-up only a similar distance away in third at the finish of the 1100-metre gallop.
In a near totally surprising sudden return to form, Bunsky Boy (86-1) from the camp of hard-working trainer Ryan Darby chased front-running Slamsilano, led at the distance, and stayed on well in the hands of Jemar Jackson to secure race seven over 1500 metres.
The eighth, run over 1900 metres, was won by Spencer Chung’s Sonny T And Chippy (3-5), ridden by Dick Cardenas, and the 1500-metre ninth event went to Silent Cat ridden by Tevin Foster for conditioner Uton Stewart. These winners had superior victory margins of 2½ and 6½ lengths, respectively.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Ryan Derby for the Best Winning Gallop of Bunsky Boy, as the last three performances saw him accumulating a combined 103 lengths in defeats but looking well and running accordingly in scoring now. The Jockeyship Award goes to Matthew Bennet whose patient judgement of pace from in front, as well as his balance and expert use of his whip, were decisive factors responsible for Vanquisher’s winning performance in race six.
