KINGSTON, Jamaica - Rojorn Di Pilot demonstrated his affinity for the five-furlong straight course when he secured victory in the Sunshine Sprint on Saturday, September 2, 2023.
Under the guidance of trainer Peter-John Parsard and jockey Omar Walker, Rojorn Di Pilot easily claimed the Overnight Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upwards by a length, clocking a time of 59.0 (23.0 x 48.4).
This marked Rojorn Di Pilot's fifth win over the distance in 13 attempts and his eighth overall in 41 attempts, amassing approximately $6.5 million in stakes.
Following his second-place finish on August 19, Parsard believed that it was inevitable for Rojorn Di Pilot to succeed in this race, particularly given his preferred distance.
"Rojorn Di Pilot delivered an outstanding performance to secure the win. As a Grade One-winning, five-straight champion horse, we knew that after recovering from the long layoff and regaining race fitness, it would be nearly impossible for him to lose this race—and thankfully he got the job done," Parsard commented.
Regarding future expectations, Parsard stated, "We will take it as it comes with Rojorn Di Pilot. He's an older horse, and as long as he remains healthy, hopefully he still has a few races left in him."
During the first half of the race, Ultimate Machine (Dane Dawkins), Rojorn Di Pilot, and I've Got Magic (Tevin Foster) vied for the lead. As they crossed the dummy rails and entered the main track for the last two furlongs (400m), Rojorn Di Pilot and I've Got Magic pulled away from the pack in a heated exchange. Ultimately, Rojorn Di Pilot proved stronger and outpaced I've Got Magic to claim victory. I've Got Magic finished in second place, and Race Car (Raddesh Roman) took third.
