The featured 1700-metre race seven, the third renewal of the Ian Levy Cup, was won predictably by Atomica (Dane Dawkins).
The Gary Subratie conditioned champion, outstayed US-bred four-year-old colt Is That A Fact by nearly six lengths.
Race ten supporting the feature was the traditional 1300-metre New Year's Day’s Trophy. Even money favourite Eazy Peazy, saddled by veteran Phillip Lee, made all the running to secure a two-and-a-half-length victory for Tevin Foster to close a riding triple.
In the opening event, run at 1400 metres, it was 7-2 against six-year-old mare Thegoodlife, ridden by Ramon Nepare who was top claiming jockey in 2023 with 18 winners.
Declared by Cashbert Khawalsingh, who had 122 starters in 2023, Thegoodlife was always in control of the pace of the 1400-metre gallop and scored by nearly three lengths.
Jason DaCosta, 2022 and 2023 champion conditioner was, off the mark immediately with well conformed three-year-old filly Sparkles (1-5) releasing her maiden certificate.
She was in no more than a canter taking her 12 lengths clear of the nearest of six rivals with newly crowned 2023 titlist Reyan Lewis with 99 wins at the reins.
With the starter about to bring the six three-year-old maidens under orders for the 800-metre straight race three, a convergence of fractious antics by two and injury to another reduced the field by half. Debutant Playfair (1-5), schooled by former three-time champion Anthony Nunes, was the first of a stable double and a riding double for Raddesh Roman won the dash by a head.
Nunes’ Sensational Slam colt matched strides with a fellow first-timer Military Machine (Matthew Bennett), trained by Captain Marlon Brown prevailed by a head eventually.
In race four, sprinted over 1000 metres straight, Basilicus (2-5), returned to form for trainer Michael Spencer. This seven-year-old mare’s near six-length advantage gave Tevin Foster, who is in the conversation as a likely champion this season, the first of his riding triple.
While in race five over a similar distance, nine-year-old mare Supreme Star (5-2) at surprisingly short odds outpaced 10 rivals to score by nearly four lengths with two-kilo claimer Shavon Townsend executing the riding honours for trainer Errol Burke.
In race six, Raddesh Roman, who is also considered a title hopeful in 2024 used the opportunity to confirm his second winner from three rides on the card. Partnering progressive Neo Star (Utero), Roman guided the nicely built five-year-old bay to score by just under four lengths over the 1820 metres course.
Trained by Peter-John Parsard, Neo Star (Utero) made the transition from a maiden winner on September 09 to Overnight Allowance qualification adding three more by November 04 and now up to Open Allowance with today’s triumph.
Foster rode the second of his three winning mounts in the 1000-metre straight eighth event aboard Volatility (3-2) and in the process was joined in the winners’ enclosure by trainer Nunes for second from his expansive stable.
Race nine staged as the McKay Security Limited Trophy and contested over 1400 metres was won from in front by Ali (Matthew Bennett). Trained by Donwell Dawes, the eight-year-old chestnut horse had his rivals in trouble from 1000 metres out and rewarded his backers with surprisingly good odds of 6-1.
