KINGSTON, Jamaica - Loyal Action, after flopping as the favourite on July 1, 2023 in a 7 ½ furlong (1,500m) event, rebounded to overcome competitors in the Knutsford Park Cup feature race on Saturday, July 8.
The three-year-old bay colt Loyal Action made most running to win the a native-bred three-year-old (non-winners of two) and imported three-year-olds and upwards (maidens) going 6 furlongs (1,200m) by an easy 8 length margin. Loyal Action ran the distance in a time of 1:14.4 (23.1 x 47.2).
Trainer Paul Swaby stated that after putting in a lot of work on his charge, he believed his Loyal Action would have delivered, especially with the distance decreased.
“Well, we had an early setback and had to start over with Loyal Action. He had some leg issues, so we did some pool and sea work with him and started trotting him all over again,” Swaby said.
“The last time Loyal Action ran, he needed that race as he was coming off a three-month layoff. When he turned for home, at the furlong-and-a-half pole, was when he started to be one paced in the race.
“He was travelling so sweetly down the backstretch coming into the lane but didn’t have that kick in the final stages of the race. I gave him a little swim and brought him back at a shorter distance, and he won,” Swaby added.
Loyal Action, ridden by Tevin Foster, began the race in second place, trailing Digital Light (Youville Pinnock). Loyal Action took the lead going into the half-mile (800m) turn, ahead of Burlap (Dane Dawkins), Geolithic (Reyan Lewis), and Pretty Caroline (Javaniel Patterson).
Turning for home with a large lead, Loyal Action went on to score comfortably beating Burling Valor and Geolithic.
“I told the jockey to try and get the lead and hold the inside rails because he loves the inside rails. Once Loyal Action is on the inside rails, he is going to fight you all the way.
“Leaving the three furlong point, I knew that the race was over as he was moving away from rivals. Time doesn’t matter, is how the track plays on the day, and so we have to just go back and see how he came out of the race and decide where we go from here,” Swaby said.
