KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE 1200-metre I’m Satisfied Trophy, staged to honour the memory of this winner of the 2000 Triple Crown, was the main attraction on the 10-race programme. Twelve declarations, including 2022 dual Classic champion Atomica (1000 Guineas & Jamaica Derby), came under orders. There are not many examples of winners of the premier 2400-metre Classic racing over half the distance in their next assignment.
With Atomica opening at odds of 1-9 and then returning final odds of 2-5, the overwhelming majority of bettors thought the reduction in distance was a non-issue. Obviously prepared to the point of invincibility by conditioner Gary Subratie, the impressively conformed filly led early on the bridle, pursued by hard-ridden 4-1 shot She’s My Destiny (Omar Walker).
Both Atomica and She’s My Destiny, racing clear, had the others in trouble 600 metres from the finish. For his fourth winner on the card in partnership with Subratie, leading reinsman Dane Dawkins must be thinking seriously that he may very well join the ranks of Caymanas champions on December 31. Atomica won by seven and a half lengths, easing down considerably. The title-chasing Dawkins was riding four winners on one race day for the third time this season.
Race one, over 700 metres, was won in a driving finish by Keffin Murray’s Run Jaya Run. The mare was partnered by veteran Devon A Thomas for a second winner from only 38 opportunities this year and the trainer’s third from 31 starts.
In the 1100-metre second event Dawkins had the first of his four wins and Subratie’s first of four aboard maiden juvenile Sistren Treasure (1-2). The United States importee impressed by giving her four rivals a head start of four lengths but was nearly six lengths clear at the finish.
In race three run at 1100 metres, claiming jockey Jawani Forbes celebrated his second career success with 2-1 backed Awesome Boy (USA) leading early on a tight rein before sprinting away to a four-and-half-length victory for trainer Donovan Russell’s eighth success from 64 declarations this year.
In race four it was time for Atlantic Blue’s (2-1) return to form over 1500 metres to confirm double success for Dawkins in tandem with Subratie.
Trainer Dale Murphy’s tenth 2022 winner, Nala’s Bushman (5-2), ridden by Jemar Jackson in the 1500-metre fifth, extended the conditioner’s most successful season tally to date.
For race six, contested over 1200 metres, it was time for the Dawkins/Subratie partnership to seal their third on the day, with Alexa’s Dream (2-1) nearly three lengths better than her nearest rival.
Trainer Rohan Mathie’s three-year-old filly A Gift From Ben made winning race seven over 1200 metres a lot easier than even the most optimistic supporters of this 9-5 second favourite may have imagined. Always going best, she sprinted to a four-and-half-length triumph with former champion jockey Dick Cardenas going to the winners’ enclosure for the 32nd occasion this season.
On a day when leading trainer Jason DaCosta was winless, the pursuing defending champion Anthony Nunes was only able to decrease the $3.7-million deficit incrementally, with maiden colt Funometer (4-5) scoring over the 1100 metres of race eight. This was also defending three-time champion jockey Anthony Thomas’s sole success on the card. With Dawkins seeking his first and moving to 80, thus leading now by seven wins, the prospect of him becoming a first-time titlist is a definite possibility.
The 1100-metre nightcap was won by Lawrence Freemantle’s Nakamura to give Rayan Lewis his 30th winner from 177 mounts this season.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Gary Subratie for the clear and obvious improvement in the form of Atomica to humble a useful field of older horses at Open Allowance level for the first time, and for delivering a very fast 1:10.4 over 1200 metres this horse secures the Best Winning Gallop. The Jockeyship Award for his absolute confidence is earned by Dawkins. Importantly, he ensured Atomica did not revert to her habit of being an untidy starter.
