KINGSTON, Jamaica - Sir Alton’s victory in the War Zone Sprint Trophy feature was part of a noticeably productive day for trainer Wayne DaCosta and jockey Anthony Thomas on the 10-race programme at Caymanas Park on Sunday (August 30).
DaCosta saddled three winners, while Thomas rode four, but the performance by three-year-old American-bred bay colt Sir Alton was the shining light on a day when the first five races were run under sunny conditions and the next five on a sloppy track following a huge and consistent downpour of rain.
In a superb-sprinting display, Sir Alton (Giant Surprise – Jadam) brushed aside rivals by 2 ½ lengths in the Restricted Stakes event over 5 1/2 furlongs (1,100m), posting a new Stakes record time of 1:04.4. The previous mark was 1:05.3 was jointly-owned by Royal Assault, done in 2015, and Simply The Best, done in 2016.
Sir Alton sat behind She’s A Hit (Dick Cardenas) for the first part of the race before surging in deep stretch on the inside rails to win comfortably. She’s A Hit held on for second, three lengths ahead of Solid Approach (Shane Ellis) in third.
DaCosta and Thomas also teamed up with Sergeant Reckless to win the second race over five furlongs (1,000m) straight and King Arthur in the sixth race which was a 6 1/2 furlongs (1,300m) call.
Thomas then guided home the Gregory Forsyth-conditioned Capturemyship in the eighth race coming down the five straight for his fourth winner.
The top-rated Non-Restricted Overnight Allowance event over 6 1/2 furlongs was won in upsetting fashion by Cryptocurrency, trained by Leroy Tomlinson and ridden by Orlando Foster.
Cryptocurrency (Adore The Gold – Pleasant Ending), who went off as a 24-1 betting option, won by 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Uncle Frank (Anthony Thomas) and Peking Cruz (Dane Dawkins) in a time of 1:18.4 for the distance.
Racing continues next Saturday.
