KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Reggae-6 was all the rage with the total sales and roll over resulting in the payout jackpot exceeding $14.0 million. In the final analysis, with over 5,000 tickets sold, only 105 survived to share the spoils at around $170,000 each as too many were off to a losing start in one or other of the two opening events.
Hot Ice, ridden by mostly absent Omar Simpson for owner/trainer Raymond Townsend, enjoyed a nine-length 1400-metre romp at 5/1, streaking away in the home straight after being slowly into stride from the gates.
There was further trouble in store for the majority of the remaining Reggae-6 players when Panamanian reinsman Ameth Robles, in one of his infrequent appearances, made it to the winners’ enclosure, following the running of the 1100-metre second event to be met by trainer Lawrence Freemantle for the first of two photo ops on the day, firstly with the 11-year-old US-bred Bigbrowngreyhope at odds of 5/1.
Fewer players were affected by the result of the third, when the Philip Feanny-conditioned short-priced Fighting Cowgirl (Paul Francis) outstayed chief rival Seven Stars (Dane Nelson) in a match of strides, eyeballs and will, with the latter blinking first to be 2 ½ lengths second at the line and the rest more than seven lengths further back in the 1600-metres gallop.
His 13th mount of the season proved lucky for apprentice Matthew Bennett when he guided trainer Keffin Murray’s five-year-old mare Moon to a five-length triumph in the 1400-metre fourth, at odds of 5/2.
Champion apprentice of 2020 Oshane Nugent enjoyed the first of a triple while closing a double for trainer Freemantle, when Mr Lyndhurst returned to form with a twelve-and-a-half length devastating winning sprint in the 1100-metre fifth event.
Nugent only had to wait half an hour to secure the second of his three as the favourably handicapped Dejae’s Boy, turned out in good enough condition by Ian Parsard, went clear approaching the distance, and scored by over three lengths.
In the seventh, the Fitzroy Glispie-owned and -trained colt No Identity, also favoured by the weight allotment, won the seventh by just over four lengths at the 1820-metre trip for apprentice Youville Pinnock.
Consistent sprinter Dee Danger secured Nugent’s best day, closing a three-timer in his fledging career. The winner held on by a head after an apparently decisive lead was reduced to barely enough momentum close to home in the 1000-metre straight dash of the eighth event.
Trained by Gary Subratie, versatile Big Big Daddy, whose previous win was over the 1820-metre course, came home strongly on the far rails to score decisively in the 1200-metre ninth event.
In the 10th, the improving US-bred, four-year-old filly Solid Approach (Omar Walker), after impressing and pleasing trainer Robert Pearson at exercise, justified favouritism by beating also highly fancied Laban (Dane Dawkins) in a hard-fought 1200-metre sprint scoring by just under two lengths.
Prepared by Wayne DaCosta, the nightcap was won predictably by the advantageously weighted England’s Rose (Anthony Thomas), coming home five lengths clear of closest rival in the 1100-metre sprint.
The Training Feat award is presented to Lawrence Freemantle for his two wins with Bigbrowngreyhope and Mr Lyndhurst, neither of which had won for over two-and-a-half years. The Best Winning Gallop was displayed by Solid Approach and the Jockeyship Award is reserved for apprentice Nugent for his unflappable approach when Dee Danger needed to be kept well balanced close to home.
