KINGSTON, Jamaica -Featured on the nine-race programme and staged as the seventh event was another renewal of the Alsafra Trophy staged in honour of the Triple Crown heroine (2008) who along with Simply Magic (2002), and She’s A Maneater (2017) are the three fillies with this unique achievement in the 63-year history of the Caymanas Park racetrack.
Declared by trainer Fitzroy Glispie, Reyan Lewis, a very accomplished rider, had winner Money Monster (2-1) in front early. Despite a sustained and spirited pursuit by the Gary Subratie conditioned five-year-old imported mare Awesome Treasure (USA), Glispie’s five-year-old gelding stayed on strongly in the latter stages of 1,600 metres distance to score by two and a half lengths.
The 1,100-metre opening event was won by maiden Charmin Beauty from the barn of conditioner Patrick Lynch with Raddesh Roman at the reins to justify favouritism at 6-5 denying her nearest rival with a win margin of no more than a short head.
In contrasting fashion, there was a ten-length runaway over 1,600 metres by 3-5 favourite Prince Dominic owned and saddled by Edward Walker. Former six-time champion reinsman Omar Walker did very little from the top of the home stretch of the gallop to secure the major portion of the purse allotted for the days second event.
Five-year-old maiden American Duke of Springs starting for the 29th time appeared to be coasting home inside the last 200 metres when experienced pilot Phillip Parchment, much to his eventual regret, used an unnecessary right-handed whip which resulted in the big importee swerving left and into the path of one his rivals.
Judging by the length of the inquiry, after much debate by the three operation stewards on duty, the number of first-past-the-post Duke of Springs was relegated to third. First prize money was duly awarded to Toughness (8-1) ridden by Youville Pinnock for trainer Rowan Mathie in this the third event that was contested over 1,000 metres round.
In race four, over the extended 1,820-metre course, backers of 4-1 shot Hot Ice got the traditional extra thrill of a front-runner outstaying rivals over a distance of ground. Accomplished reinsman Javaniel Patterson deployed enterprising tactics and the seven-year-old mare, from the barn of jockey-turned-trainer Fernando Geddes, had her rivals running in Indian file and in vain pursuit throughout.
Race five went to straight course specialist Commissioner (Tevin Foster) at 5-1 as the five-year-old sprinted in front over the 800 metres. Imported in utero there was a strange coincidence as the gelding has now won three of its last five races running from post position one. What was also unusual is a claiming box with seven of the ten horses in the field, including the winner, going to different stables.
Rocket Lily conditioned by second-generation horseman Christopher Pearson was the 14-1 winning sprinter in the 1,000-metre round dash of the sixth event on the card. Apprentice Shavon Townsend, on his 32nd mount of the season, turned in a confident display as the speedy little filly led early, was wisely held up in second when challenged but sped back to the front in the upper stretch. Rocket Lily ran very well inside the last 200 metres and won handily scoring by nearly three lengths for Townsend’s third success this year.
In the eighth event for three-year-old maidens, Josh ridden by Dane Dawkins for trainer Richard Azan won comfortably over the 1,200 metres easing down and was just over two lengths clear. Fancied as the favourite at 4-5, it was a predictable success for the colt who was disqualified from first in his second career run and followed up with two second placed finishes against much smarter rivals.
Prepared by champion Anthony Nunes, with Robert Halledeen aboard and offering odds of 5-2 Thalos romped the 1,200-metre nightcap by eighth and a half-lengths. This was a similar winning margin to when he cantered in over 1,000 metres straight posting a time of 1:03.0 very early in April. Thalos gives the impression he has scope for significant improvement and going forward it will be fascinating to see if he will be pointed to longer trips or kept to sprinting.
