KINGSTON, Jamaica - In a race restricted to two-year-olds and staged as the seventh of 11 on the card, only six declarations, including two maidens, reported to the starter to line up for the featured Cash Pot “Only One For Me” Trophy. This, in and of itself, with a total purse of $3.25 million, is confirmation of the concerning decline of the horse population available for racing.
Ridden from in front by Robert Halledeen, for his first of two, Mamma Mia (5/1), schooled by Jason DaCosta, was this trainer’s second on the 10-race card. The nicely conformed juvenile filly led early and ran well inside the last 200 metres to hold the lead safely by one-and-a-half lengths in repelling the challenge maiden colt Mojito, (Dane Dawkins) a 2/1 chance. This performance confirmed the promise showed when this Soul Warrior-bred winner controlled the pace in a winning debut a fortnight ago.
Solomon Sharpe, chairman of promoting company Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment, in a recent presentation, indicated there were around 1,100 horses in training. He also called on the Government to help by reducing the taxes payable on the importation of horses. Further, Sharpe speculated on the prospect of staging as many as 108 race meetings annually, with thoroughbreds numbering in excess of 1,500.
There may be a larger problem than is being recognised currently. The Supreme Racing Guide’s monitoring of the horse population reveals this status. From January 1 to October 22, 2022, in the 691 events offered, 1,176 horses raced, but of that number 210 horses have not been declared for more than 180 days or at least six months. Estimated minimally, training fees and other expenses would have exceeded $40 million during the period without the prospect of returns for the owners affected.
Claiming jockey Abigail Able had her second success of the season partnering 3/5 favourite Ianzha Links over the 1,300 metres of the opening event for leading conditioner DaCosta’s first of two on the day.
Favourite at odds of 4/5, Steven Todd’s Faukland, ridden by Anthony Thomas, scored in the 1600-metre second event.
Race three, run over 1,300 metres, was won from in front by Lawrence Freemantle’s Nina Dorada (9/2) with Javaniel Patterson executing the riding tactics.
In race four, in-form reinsman Reyan Lewis came home three-and-a-half lengths clear aboard Party Princess for trainer Henry Harrison. While the fifth over the same course and distance went to Dennis Thwaites’s Flowers Thirty (5/1) with claiming jockey Matthew Bennett astride.
Kay Boy, conditioned by Dale Murphy, produced a sudden return to form rewarding backers odds of 13/1 in the day’s sixth event contested over 1,600 metres for veteran rider Paul Francis to claim his first of two wins.
Champion trainer Anthony Nunes had his only success with maiden colt Anchorman (Tevin Foster), scoring in the 1600-metre eighth event to return odds of 3/2 favourite.
Francis secured his second of the afternoon aboard Phoenix Risen (8/1), trained by Ryan Darby, with the early lead having all comers off their bridles with 500 of the 1,000-metres straight of race nine remaining.
The 10th event saw Duke (2/1), trained by Gary Subratie, winning the 1,000-metres round 10th to confirm top-flight reinsman Halledeen’s second of two wins on the day.
Running at odds of 41/1, Monseiur Blue, guided by Samantha Fletcher, arrived in the final stride of the 1,000-metres straight 11th and final for trainer Gresford Smith.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Dale Murphy for the performance of Kay Boy, who had seemingly lost his zest for racing with an inexplicably series of poor form in his last 11 starts. Phoenix Risen earns the Best Gallop Award, while Paul Francis’s experience and riding skills earn him the Jockeyship Award for his critically important contribution to the speedy colt’s success.
