KINGSTON, Jamaica - The script for the St Leger race day (July 2, 2022) could not have been better written for trainer owner and breeder Ian Parsard.
Parsard, the operator of Paradise Farms at Spring Village breeding operations dominated the Classic Jamaica St Leger event. It was not enough that the standing stallion at Paradise Bern Identity sired the winner of the St Leger Blue Vinyl, horses also from the Bern Identity line, Brinks and D Head Cornerstone finished the St Leger in third and fourth places respectively.
Earlier in the St Leger day proceedings, Parsard reaped success as a trainer with Mahogany, who pulverized the opposition ridden by the leading jockey Dane Dawkins in a three-year-old and upwards Open Allowance in near record-equalling time of 1:30.2 seconds for 1,500 metres.
“Today’s St Leger Day (July 2) was a wonderful session for our racing stables and our breeding operations.
First of all, the outstanding performance from our stable was Mahogany running 1:30 and change for 1,500 metres was very impressive. I think the way he started to run his races as well is very encouraging. He is relaxing in the first half of the race although still going at a good pace but then has a devastating kick opening-up from the half-mile opening up from the three-mile and just falling asleep in the straight for he is so lonely by himself. I must repeat that I am very pleased with his run. Yes, he had 53.0kg today with the handicap in his favour, but notwithstanding that, I thought his performance was fantastic.
“Then on the breeding side, we had an excellent result in St Leger, the second jewel in the Triple Crown series. Blue Vinyl is representing Paradise at Spring Village very well. Good luck to him and his connections in the Derby as Triple Crown victory looms.
”I am also happy with Brinks’s performance. Not only that he finish third, but it is how he did it. He was upfront with the filly (Atomica), and when she took him on and got her head in front of him, I thought it would have been trouble for Brinks but very surprising to me, he was fighting back from the two and a half furlong point, he was pretty close at the furlong, and then Atomica came over and took his place on the rail, causing him to switch from the rails, but he was still fighting up the lane.
“All things being well, we could look forward to Brinks participating in the Derby from our stables but today belongs to trainer Patrick Lynch and the owner and jockey of Blue Vinyl and we have to be part of the ride as breeders,” Parsard said.
