STALLWALKIN’GIRL WINS FIRST RACE IN 2022
Stallwalkin’girl, under a confident ride for apprentice Shane Richardson, won the $1-million McKay Security Trophy, a four-year-old and upwards Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) race over 9 furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m).
Richardson held the Errol Subratie trainee in second place behind Kingswood (Javaniel Patterson) going around the clubhouse turn and then the backstretch. Silent Cat (Robert Halledeen) and War of the Roses (Tevin Foster) tracked the leaders from third and fourth places respectively.
Stallwalkin’girl maintained her gallop down the backstretch as Kingswood continued to set the pace under a snug wrap. Stallwalkin'girl cut the lead navigating the half-mile (800m), drew alongside Kingswood approaching the distance, and kicked for home entering the straight for a 2-¼-length win.
Kingswood finished in second place as 84-1 long shot Fiery Path (Bebeto Harvey) got up for third place. The final time for the race was 2:03.2 backed with splits of 29.1 x 56.0 x 1:21.2 x 1:47.4.
ONE-TWO FINISH FOR STEVEN TODD
Trainer Steven Todd swept the first two places with his charges Lala Diva and Fabulosity in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claimer ($550,000-$450,000) spread over 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m).
Lala Diva, ridden by Anthony Thomas, broke well as she chased Balazo (Shane Richardson) at the start, with stablemate Fabulosity (Roger Hewitt) in third.
Lala Diva joined Balazo approaching the turn for home, surging to the front further in the lane. Lala Diva then responded well to Thomas' urgings and kept up his work in the straight to win comfortably by 2 3/4 lengths ahead of a game Fabulosity.
Bold Sami, under Samantha Fletcher, came from behind horses to get third place, with the final time recorded at 1:09.0.
FIRST-EVER DOUBLE FOR TRAINER ERROL BURKE
Trainer Errol Burke saddled his first-ever double after his charges Little Grovy Thing and Schlesinger won their respective races on the New Year’s Day programme.
Little Grovy Thing, returning with the blinkers off, easily brushed aside rivals in a five-year-old and upwards (non-winners of two at 5 ½ furlongs, while Schlesinger made one move to win the $1-million McKay Security Sprint Trophy, a five-year-old and upwards Claiming ($180,000-$150,000) contest travelling 3 ½ furlongs (700m).
With Javaniel Patterson in the saddle, the Burke trainee, Little Grovy Thing, after sitting in second place for most of the way, pulled away inside the final furlong to win by 9 lengths. Wearyourhonor finished second, and Audibility (Roger Hewitt) third. The final time was 1:09.4.
Schlesinger, ridden by Reyan Lewis, outsprinted rivals to win by a length and a half ahead of Awesome Cat (Andree Powell) and Sir Frederick (Shavon Townsend) in a time of 42.3.
HIJO PRIMERO LANDS 21-1 UPSET
Trained by Dennis Thwaites and ridden by Roger Hewitt, Hijo Primero upset rivals at odds of 21-1 in the native-bred five-year-old and upwards (non-winners of three) going 7 furlongs (1,400m).
Unable to go with the early speedsters, Hijo Primero was held off the pace as Wright in Flight (Jerome Innis) led the field down the backstretch ahead of Longie Lala (Tevin Foster), Letters in Gold (Ramon Nepare) and ZD Eye (Reyan Lewis).
Hijo Primero continued to play the waiting game until navigating the home bend when he began to round horses but was still somewhat off the leaders as they bunched up on the front end entering the straight.
Hijo Primero found another gear inside the final furlong and then blew away from the field in the final stages to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:30.0. Finishing second was Wright in Flight, with Letters in Gold third.
EIGHT HORSES CLAIMED
In the opening race, Ryan Williams claimed Stallwalkin'gir for owner Peniel from Anthony Subratie, Anthony Dixon claimed War of the Roses for owner Henley Wilson from Anthony Nunes, Alford Brown claimed Kingswood for owner Kyle Brown from Dennis Pryce, Everal Francis claimed Silent Cat for owner K T Racing Stable from Ryan Williams, Stedman Curtis claimed My Mom Juss for owner Samora Clarke from Alford Brown, and Byron Davis claimed Whatever for owner Clive Robinson from Rowan Mathie. All horses from the first event were claimed for $250,000 each.
Dennis Thwaites claimed Fabulosity for owner Carlton Watson for $550,000 from Steven Todd, and Nicholas Smith claimed True Al Sky for owner David Reid also for $550,000 from Alford Brown from the second race.
