Staged to honour the memory of 2010 Triple Crown hero Menudo, one of the best local-bred stayers of all time, this trophy event, run over 2,000 metres, was the feature on the 10-race card and was programmed as race eight.
Dual 2021 Classic winner Calculus (St Leger & Derby), assigned to concede upwards of five kilogrammes to a similar number of rivals, was bet as the favourite at odds of 3/5.
Former two-time champion Shane Ellis, declared by conditioner Gary Subratie, was aboard for the ninth occasion of the colt’s last 11 races. United States-bred I Am Fred (Christopher Mamdeen) proved to be a well-rated and determined front-runner. The versatile American importee, winner of the 1200-metre None Such Trophy two weeks prior, set the fractions comfortably and was still in front 200 metres out. I Am Fred was joined by Calculus shortly after and given the opportunity to challenge successfully along his favourite far-rails path, edged away to outstay the brave importee by nearly two lengths.
An interesting talking point making the rounds is about the choice of Mamdeen not to keep I Am Fred on the inside rails like he did to score in the None Such just two weeks ago. Opinions are divided on that issue but what is not in dispute is the performance of Ellis. Ellis, a former two-time champion and acknowledged as the jockeys’ colony best judge of pace in races over the longest distances gave a masterclass of the quality of his reinsmanship. Calculus was Ellis’ second winner on the card.
Well off the early pace astride Spencer Chung’s maiden three-year-old US import Real Boss in race five, contested over the infrequently utilised 1800-metre course, the nicely conformed chestnut outdistanced her nearest rival by four lengths. The improving chestnut filly won at odds of 2/1, with Ellis making it look far easier than it was in reality to confirm double success.
Chung had his second on the card without going to the winners’ enclosure. His maiden charge Don Vincenzo (1/2), second past the post in race nine, run over 1600 metres, was elevated to winner status following the disqualification of first-past-the-post Traditional Lady. Ridden by Tevin Foster, the Patrick Lynch-conditioned filly ran gamely in resisting the challenge of Don Vincenzo (Reyan Lewis) inside the last 100 metres to keep her head in front at the line.
However, Foster deployed an unusual intimidatory tactic by leaning over and extending his left arm with his elbow making contact with Lewis’s neck. Foster, just back from suspension, will have to face the operation stewards at the Winchester Road office of the Jamaica Racing Commission much too quickly for his comfort.
The opening event, contested over 1,200 metres, was won by 1/5 favourite Wowza (USA), ridden by champion Anthony Thomas for the first of double success for trainer Anthony Nunes’ high-powered outfit.
Ellis, in race six, Bugatti (Tevin Foster) controlled the pace of the round 1,000-metre gallop to win by nearly three lengths to confirm the three-time champion trainer’s double and 10th winner over the last five race meets.
In the day’s second, restricted to two-year-old maidens, Awesome Anthony, schooled by Patrick Taylor and ridden by Oshane Nugent, led and was in front by 12 lengths at the winning post.
Leading reinsman Dane Dawkins (75) cancelled closest pursuer Anthony Thomas’s (71) success in the opener, with Dale Murphy’s Ajita (3-2) scoring by three and three parts of a length in race three, run at 1,400 metres.
The 2019 champion Christopher Mamdeen was four-and-a-half lengths clear aboard Papa Albert (4/5), trained by Norman Smith at the end of the 1,000-metre fourth race run on the straight course.
Claiming jockey Ramon Nepare was in double form with wins aboard Wright In Flight (5-2), turned out in unbeatable condition Michael Marlowe for the 1,820-metre run of race seven, and Sweetyman (5-1) for trainer Oneil Markland in the closing event over 1,200 metres. Starting his career on December 7, 2019, the capable lightweight reinsman, who has ridden only 12 winners from 302 opportunities, with this, his best day in the pigskin achieved, is likely to be engaged more frequently going forward.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Michael Marlowe for the return to winning form of Wright In Flight whose combined losing margins amounted to 144 lengths in her last 10 races. The Best Winning Gallop was displayed by Calculus to overcome a surprisingly tough rival in the feature, with Shane Ellis earning yet another Jockeyship Award for his tactical application to the task.
