KINGSTON, Jamaica - Gifted by the conditions of entry, including a hugely bizarre weight advantage over inferior horses and an optional claiming tag, the Anthony Nunes-trained Hoist The Mast won the 1,100-metre opening event by 11 lengths.
Ridden by Tevin Foster, the speedy five-year-old chestnut mare was the first of two wins on the day for the Nunes barn.
The clincher for Nunes came in race four, contested over 1,100 metres, as maiden Princess Akilah (5-1), owned by Nunes himself, was always clear. Youville Pinnock executed the riding honours to win by over seven lengths. Pinnock’s engagement by Nunes is a rarity.
In race two, three-kilogramme claimer Shane Richardson was aboard Storm Valley (9-5) saddled by Delroy Wisdom. In winning the 1,100-metre contest, the nine-year-old horse has improved his career statistics to 14 wins in 64 appearances with the latest seven recorded in his last 10 starts.
The horse population is desperately in need of classification to ensure there is improvement in the size of the fields down the lowest classes. The number of horses failing to finish through lameness continues unabated. However, it is difficult for the officiating veterinarians to detect and determine the level of pressure on a horse’s legs prior to full-out gallop in a race.
In race over three over 1,100 metres, trainer Dale Murphy followed up the success of Grade I campaigner Runaway Algo (USA) being victorious in the She’s A Maneater Trophy, 24 hours earlier with maiden Maggie’s Trix being the first of two winning mounts for veteran Paul Francis. Murphy, voted the most improved trainer of the 2022 Racing Year in Jamaica, takes his 2023 tally to 10 wins from 66 starts.
Trained by Donovan Russell and ridden by Roger Hewitt, Timetosaygoodbye (1-5) beat his nearest rival by six lengths over the 600-metre dash of race five on the straight course.
Maggie’s Boy (7-2) competing for the second time this season won the sixth event defeating 13 rivals over the 1,000 metres straight course with a narrow-driven victory margin of three parts of a length. It was an excellent effort of preparation on the part of trainer Steven Todd. Jockey Raddesh Roman must also take a lot of credit as well for the win.
Run as race seven, Division I of the featured 1,400-metre O & S Tack Room Trophy, restricted to non-winners at the Overnight Allowance category, was won by the improving Stomp The Rhythm trained by Vincent Atkinson with Shamaree Muir’s execution in the saddle is worth a second look to savour its quality.
Run as the ninth, Division II was won in a six-length post to post runaway by Baton Rouge declared by Ryan Darby for Paul Francis’ second on the card.
Even money favourite, Rani Bangala (Dane Dawkins) continued to improve her form under the care of Robert Pearson with a smooth five-length win-margin gallop over the 1300 metres of the eighth event.
Carl Anderson is in the 2023 top 10 in the categories of owner, breeder and trainer, saddled Burning Valor (7-5) to score in the nightcap contested over 1,300 metres. The enterprising tactics deployed by jockey Bebeto Harvey to seize the initiative 1000 metres out to last by a head gave the chasing pack a little too much to do.
