KINGSTON, Jamaica - The opening event on the nine-race programme was won by Runway Icon (9-5), prepared by second-generation horseman Howard Jaghai and partnered by leading reinsman Tevin Foster for the first of his two wins on the day. In her previous outing three weeks prior the five-year-old grey mare led everywhere, except at the final half a length. However, under the more restrained assistance of Foster, she was just over four lengths clear at the finish of this 1,200-metre exertion.
Recent licensee Carlton Cunningham thought he saddled his first winner on day one of his career on May 13, but his charge Duke Of Springs (USA) was disqualified from first and placed out of the race for severe interference to a rival. On this occasion there was no problem. Former three-time champion Anthony Thomas, who was destined to ride four winners on the card, coaxed a driven three-parts-of-a-length victory out of Nina Dorada (4-5) in race two, run over 1,100 metres.
In race three, contested over the 1,000-metre straight course and in the absence of Nuclear Noon and Scooby reducing the field to four, Thomas moved 50 per cent closer to his four-timer, with a comfortable success aboard Will The Conqueror (1-5), presented by Steven Todd to make it two for the second generation conditioners and the first of two for his stable.
Thomas was back in the winners’ enclosure to secure 75 per cent of his four-timer, following a 12-length runaway by Hecandance (3-5) over the 1,400 metres of race four, thus confirming Todd’s double success. In race five, run over 1,300 metres, Kwaku, posted by veteran Owen Sharpe, proved the odds of 2-5 to be justified and confirmed Foster’s riding double by a two-length margin.
Oneil Scott returned to local race riding and enjoyed one of the now too frequent Caymanas “off the TV” runaways with Alford Brown’s, maiden Prissie (utero) scoring by eight-and-a-half lengths on the 1,500-metre course at odds of 5-2 in the day’s sixth.
The seventh, run over 1,820 metres, generated some excitement as two-and-a-half length winner Sonny T And Chippy (1-5) had a long duel with chief rival The Citadel (Jerome Innis) before his superior stamina proved decisive.
Captain Calico (1-2) landed the odds but not in the expected manner his exercise gallops and the betting suggested he might have. Linton Steadman had to work harder than expected to confirm a winning first appearance aboard the Anthony Nunes-schooled colt, who was only just over one length clear of his closest pursuer at the end of the gallop over the 1,000 metres of the straight course for the purse of race eight.
Featured on the card was the sixth renewal of the 1,400-metre Monday Morning Trophy staged in honour of the 1987 Derby and Gold Cup winner. Fittingly, the winner, Princess Sharon (9-5), a winner by three parts of a length, was saddled by former top-flight reinsman turned trainer Fitzroy Glispie, who was amongst the best during the halcyon days of local racing. Thomas had to summon the speed, stamina, and courage of the filly to secure this best day of the season with the fourth success on the card.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Glispie for the performance of Princess Sharon for delivering the Best Winning Gallop. Anthony Thomas, who had to deploy the full range of his skill set, including balance and judgement of pace, to execute the two close victories, earns for himself today’s Jockeyship Award.
