KINGSTON, Jamaica - As the racing office of the promoting company Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited digs deep to fill races, there were only 77 declarations and, to the credit of the trainers, only one failed to face the starter. Against the background of having to work with a reducing horse population annually, it has to be said that, under the prevailing circumstances, with 21 categories of horses to rotate in the two-monthly projections, as good a job as possible is being performed.
Veteran conditioner Adin Williams, the man who saddled Mr Lover Lover to win the Jamaica Derby in 1997 and sent the colt to the Eastern Caribbean to lift the Premier Classic in Trinidad & Tobago as well, declared seven-year-old maiden Supreme Star for her 15th career start in the opening event. Looking especially well-presented in the post parade, the mare outsprinted her eight rivals over the 1,000-metre straight to score by three-and-a-half lengths at odds of 4-1.
This turned out to be the first of two wins on the card for the 3-0 kilogramme claiming jockey Shavon Townsend. He confirmed his best day in the saddle in race seven with Little Grovy Thing (1-1) almost seven lengths clear at the finish of the 1,100-metre sprint. Trainer Errol Burke enjoyed his second trip to the winners’ enclosure from his 22 declarations this season.
Race two, run on the 1,000-metre minimum trip of the round course, went to the 5-2 wagered and Gary Griffiths-conditioned Givemethelight (Nicholas Hibbert). The tough maiden colt who races frequently placed third in a race over 1,300 metres 24 hours earlier.
Still on the course and distance for the third, nine-year-old Mr Lyndhurst (9-5) outsprinted 1-5 favourite Morse Code (Robert Halledeen) by nearly four lengths for trainer Lawrence Freemantle to maintain his good average of at least one win per month this season.
Course specialist Sir Kel (Oneil Mullings) at 4-1 from the in-form camp of top 10 conditioner Ryan Darby was the sprinter sustaining superior speed over 1,000 metres straight of race four. Double success for Darby was confirmed in tandem with Mullings again doing the riding honours partnering Brompton Alex (9-2) in the ninth and final. The improving colt’s strong run inside the 100 of the 1,000 metres round trip secured victory by just under two lengths.
In the fifth event, lightly raced Last Lick (1-5), schooled by Gordon Lewis and ridden by Chalrick Budhai, now has a hat-trick of successes from its last three races. The five-year-old horse followed up two impressive wide-margin victories totalling 31 lengths on the straight course. This was a near five-length canter over the trip in career start number six.
Still on the 1,000-metre straight course for race six, favourite and long-time leader Sure Curlin (Delroy Beharie) starting as evens favourite could not quicken when it mattered. Ruds D Indian (4-1) with the 2019 champion Christopher Mamdeen astride, came from last 600 metres out to sprint to the front late and score by a length and three parts for trainer Donovan Phillipps.
Four-year-old Johncrowjeff (9-1), trained by title-chasing Jason DaCosta for his first and ridden by champion Anthony Thomas seeking his fourth, affinity to far rails served the bay gelding very well in the home straight of the 1,400-metre eighth event. Pressured for the lead by 2-1 shot Taurus Boy (USA) ridden by Reyan Lewis, Johncrowjeff needed speed, stamina and courage from 500 metres out to secure the major portion of the prize money by a half-a-length.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Adin Williams for persevering with the aging maiden Supreme Star. Johncrowjeff performed the Best Winning Gallop with rider Anthony Thomas chalking up yet another Jockeyship Award as he nears another milestone in his outstanding five-year career being one winner less than 500.
