KINGSTON, Jamaica - Half a dozen sprinters were declared for the eighth event featuring the first annual renewal of the 1,100-metre, now the Christopher “Chris” Armond Memorial Trophy. Armond passed away earlier this year.
The stable of champion trainer-designate Jason DaCosta nominated King Arthur, Eagle One (USA) and importantly, consistent 3-5 favourite She’s My Destiny (Omar Walker) who dominated the early fractions and was easily five lengths clear at the finish.
Racing on only the third occasion, Ryan Darby’s lightly raced three-year-old maiden colt Delay The Game (35-1) under skilful handling from two-kilogramme claiming jockey Matthew Bennett. This upsetter led and ran well when challenged inside the last 200 metres by Premier Identity (Aaron Chatrie) to deny the lead to this and any other of his seven rivals for the entire 1,600 metres of the opening event.
Race two, contested over 1,100 metres, went to the Lee Clarke owned and trained five-year-old mare Silverstine with champion Anthony Thomas working overtime to land the odds of 8-5 by one length.
In race three half an hour later, course specialist KD Rocket (6-5) showed his affinity to the 1,000-metre straight distance. The relatively lightly raced five-year-old was dismounted and led to winners’ enclosure by jockey Dane Dawkins who obviously was concerned with the shape of the legs of the Gary Subratie-saddled winner. Thomas, in pursuit of his fourth riding title with three-timer 48 hours earlier, had moved his season tally to 96, which left him ending the day two wins adrift of the leading Dawkins seeking his first.
Turned out in immaculate condition by owner/breeder/trainer Carl Anderson, Press Conference (2-1) controlled the second half the 1,400-metre fourth event gallop and scored convincingly albeit being only two lengths superior to his nearest rival with Paul “Country” Francis at the reins.
Kiaman McGregor rode 5-2 shot Conundrum, who won by 6¼ lengths in the fifth event for trainer Ralph Roberts to have his second success of the season from his stable’s 20 declarations.
Starting at odds of 2-1 favourite in race six, Jon P (Samantha Fletcher) sprinted gamely over the 1,000 metres of the straight course to win by three-parts of a length for conditioner Colin Ferguson’s ninth trip to the winners’ enclosure from 62 starts this racing year.
In the day’s seventh, run over 1,500 metres, Daddy Jones (1-5), ridden by former two-time champion Shane Ellis and saddled by Dennis Thwaites, arrived at the winning post conservatively five lengths clear of a similar number of vastly inferior rivals.
Jerome “Cranberry” Innis has not had the best of racing luck this year. He was absent for an extended period because of injuries sustained in a spill last February resulting in hospitalisation. The competent lightweight reinsman was on only his 112th mount of season aboard Patrick Lynch’s Northern Lady (21-1) in the ninth and closing event restricted to three-year-fillies none of which had won two races. With 100 of the 1,200 metres remaining, no fewer than half-dozen in the field held every chance, but the skill set of Innis secured the upset victory by a half a length.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Ryan Darby for presenting Delay The Game, a colt who hardly raised a gallop on debut and swerved at the start of his second race on November 19 and December 11, respectively. The three-year-old progeny of Bridal Quest showed no sign of any lack of experience in delivering the Best Winning Gallop and benefitted immensely from the enterprising tactics of Matthew Bennett who earns the Jockeyship Award.
