As the three-year-old watch continues
THE THREE-YEAR-OLDS
There was one three-year-old contest on the nine-race card. That was the second, a maiden condition call in which Scooby ridden by Oshane Nugent and trained by Richard Azan was installed as the 4-5 favourite going seven furlongs.
Scooby impressed on debut (Jan 25) when he finished a close second behind the progressive Roraima at a mile. Scooby (Casual Trick – Royal Dutch) raced prominently but shot off to the stand rails when in the stretch, thereby dissipating all his chances of winning.
The Ian Parsard trained, Berning Red (Omar Walker), also racing for the second occasion, made full use of the opportunity presented to notch the win with Scooby’s stable colleague Rum Puncher (Dane Nelson) ending in the second slot. Scooby finished third.
The final time of 1:29.2 is nothing to write home about, yet it is still early days plus the colts and geldings three-year-old cohort has not impressed leading into the Classic races.
We still await the seasonal starts of Brinks and Perfect Brew, who left the juvenile ranks as the leading males.
The top-rated race on the day was the seventh, an Overnight Allowance event at five furlongs straight.
As expected, She’s My Destiny (Anthony Thomas) started at the odds on 2-5 favourite, but this Jason DaCosta trainee after leading for the first two furlongs could not match up with the seasoned and always consistent Go Deh Girl. Go Deh Girl (Tevin Foster), still had to dig deep as Race Car (Dane Nelson), competing for the first time in 555 days due to injuries was running on and just failed to win by a length.
This effort by Race Car is worthy of special note, as this now five-year-old foreigner displayed that he still has races to win. Lookout for Race Car when next he enters the starting gate.
THE JOCKEYS
Champion jockey Anthony Thomas has made a slow start to the season but is slowly but surely gaining traction. Thomas rode two winners on the day, Special Counsel and Sticky Don to lead the riders.
Despite Thomas’ two-timer, the jockey who brought the house down was the veteran Everton “Killer” Miller.
Miller on the Philip Feanny trained I’ve Got Magic raced well off the pace as Regnant (Omar Walker) set fast splits. In the stretch drive, I’ve Got Magic was not even on the lips of the commentator.
Then out of the clouds, Miller emerged on I’ve Got Magic with what turned out to be a well-timed run to nip Regnant in the final stride.
It is good to see a jockey like Miller, who once sparkled in the saddle at his best so many years ago still being able to find the skills necessary to win races, and dramatically also.
