The second US$150,000 Mouttet Mile race day was more about a successful promotion of the event than the race itself with the result predictably anti-climactic.
For promoter Supreme Venture Racing & Entertainment Limited, it was a highly commendable effort to create an ambiance worthy of the special significance of the occasion.
The race was won by recent special US import Rough Entry (5-2), guided by US-based Frenchman Julien Leparoux for the second winner of his double success on the card. Trained by owner Rohan Crichton, the six-year-old horse was seven lengths superior to the nearest of the best local contender 2023 Derby hero Ability.
The good news from US-based Crichton, son of popular long-standing owner Sonny, is that he has added a Caymanas barn to his operations and Rough Entry (USA) will not be re-exported.
Having ridden his 200th career winner at the last race day, the good recent form of Javaneil Patterson continued as he brought Patrick Lynch’s Traditional Lady (3-1) inside the last 100 of the 1400 metres, to score by just over one length in the day’s opener.
Half an hour later, Raddesh Roman, another jockey in good form, rode the Spencer Chung-saddled Real Boss (4-5) over the 1500 metres of race two to secure the first of a well-deserved riding double.
Tevin Foster was one of the very early favourites for the 2023 riding honours, but was on 76 winners, trailing likely new champion Reyan Lewis (97) and reigning Dane Dawkins (83) at the start of the day. On Saturday, he was in good form to register triple success beginning in race three with the two ahead surprisingly left winless on the card of 11 races.
The event, restricted to juveniles and contested over the 1,200 metres course was won by Grecian Light (4-5) from the barn of 2023 graduate Paul Swaby.
In respect of Dawkins’ failure to win, he rode four-time undefeated US-importee Desert Of Malibu to score by two and a half lengths in the 1200-metre race five. However, following the usual unnecessarily lengthy deliberations of the operation stewards, now a feature of the approach of these officials, the result was altered.
Dawkins’ momentary loss of control of the big chestnut filly caused dangerous interference to a rival early in the gallop. The outcome was the demotion of Desert Of Malibu (USA) to fourth behind the offended Madelyn’s Sunshine (USA) ridden by Reyan Lewis, who lodged an objection as well. The event was awarded to I’ve Got Magic (USA) trained by former 14-time champion Philip Feanny and partnered by Shamaree Muir at 6-1.
Ridden by Paul Francis, six-year-old gelding Helicopter (5-2), whose last success was his fourth career win in late 2021, was turned out in unbeatable condition by Edward Stanberry. In the first run for the stable, Helicopter led for the last 800 of the 1,400 metres of the gallop of race four and never looked likely to be caught in delivering a six and a half-length margin of victory.
In race six, run at 1,300 metres, the second of the three successes for “Terrific” Tevin Foster came aboard 3-1 bet Premier Identity in a race where five horses were still in contention 100 metres out. However, Foster’s superb balance and timing for a victory margin of just over one length gave the major share of the spoils to second generation conditioner Howard Jaghai.
For the 1,820 metres race seven, Foster, in securing his riding triple, executed trainer Richard Azan’s tactics to perfection.
Rainsville (4-1) came from well off the pace thus arriving in the final stride for victory by a neck. Foster has shown consistently that patience is one of his more important assets in distributing effectively (‘rating’) a horse’s speed over any distance.
Incidentally, this 1820-metre trip, with field size restricted to 12 starters for reasons of safety in the clubhouse turn, should have been abandoned immediately in favour of the 1,900 metres distance introduced in 2021. This turn arrives too quickly and there have been numerous dangerous incidents over the years. For horses capable of staying the distance another eighty metres to 1900 is not a significant difference. Additionally, maximum declaration of entries could be increased.
For third place finisher in the 2023 Jamaica Derby Super Admiral (7-1), a return to form after a couple of below-par performances rendered him certainty in a field of his non-winners of two races. To secure his riding double, Roman gave a confident in riding the finish to thwart, by just over a length, the frontrunning effort of 84-1 outsider Eazy Peazy (Jordan Barrett).
Secret Admiral is bred, owned and trained by Carl Anderson, currently lying ninth and fourth in the 2023 top-ten trainers and breeders lists respectively.
With respect to outsiders, it was 34-1 against maiden winner Grey Commander ridden by three-kilogramme claimer Shavon Townsend and declared by trainer Keffin Murray for race ten over 1,300 metres.
Race nine over 1,400 metres presented US-based Frenchman Julien Leparoux with the opportunity to demonstrate live why he is one of the best on both sides of the Atlantic to his local supporters. Captain Calico, a strapping colt showing progressive form and conditioned by Anthony Nunes, was installed favourite at 7-5, a suggestion that the task was easy; it was anything but!
Unlike the untidy ground- losing beginning in his previous race Captain Calico was perfect here to be in front and on the bridle before any rival had even coupled-up. Waiting in front and pressured on both sides in the stretch drive, Leparoux, for the first of his two winners on the day, drove Captain Calico skillfully to hold the advantage safely.
