RACE ONE – An undue delay of approximately 20 minutes held up the start of the first event as the farrier on duty had to make urgent shoe repairs to the eventual 4-5 favourite Papa Albert. Four Thousand drawn on the outside with Oshane Nugent in the saddle ran out an easy winner. It was good to see Nugent in the winners’ enclosure once again. This was only his third win in 2022 from 59 rides.
RACE TWO – Pakman at odds of 4-1 dominated this event giving the little-used apprentice Calvin Bailey a rare win, his first this year from only seven rides, while for winning trainer Ian Roberts it was his first from three starts. Congrats gentlemen.
RACE THREE – City Counsel with Tevin Foster aboard for trainer Dennis Pryce, had little to do in earning his fifth career victory from 31 lifetime starts. The win by City Counsel again brought to the fore the developing combination of trainer Pryce and owners’ syndicate, Busy Racing Stables. This combo has had many successes in recent times, and long may it continue. For trainer Pryce, City Counsel was his 10th success in 2022, from 41 starts.
RACE FOUR – It was close to a gate-to-wire affair for High Diplomacy with Dane Dawkins in the saddle for trainer Patrick ‘Wacky’ Lynch. Dawkins has always looked competent in the saddle and seems to like riding from in front, as he rated High Diplomacy well, saving the final push for the last furlong in this 7 ½ furlong contest. Even money favourite Blood Fire (Andre Powell) chased in vain, but it was not to be.
RACE FIVE – Racing for the first time under the care of trainer Norman Smith, Miss HJF benefitted from a patient and well-timed ride by the bang-in form Tevin Foster. Miss HJF was slowly out of her starting stall, but Foster was unperturbed, as he waited and gently gathered ground. Turning for home, Foster placed Miss HJF on the wide outside, and the bay filly gathered steam to pull off the victory in the last half-furlong. Win number two on the day for Foster.
RACE SIX – The Reggae 6 closed with a fighting victory for Dracarys with Odeen Edwards in the saddle for trainer Phillip Lee. Edwards, who started his career with a bang and was highly rated by racing scribes, has fallen from grace for various reasons. The hope is that this young man can revatalise his career after this noticeable display in the saddle. Dracarys had a running battle with Smoke Haze (Jordan Barrett) from the four-furlong marker, with the latter pointing with 1 ½ furlongs left in the contest, but racing on the inside rails, Edwards summoned the courage in Dracarys to get a worthy win.
RACE SEVEN – In a driving finish, the man racing fans dub as the ‘Wily Coyote’, jockey Dick Cardenas brought the Richard Azan trained Cruella to defeat Taurus Boy and Press Conference. This event again highlighted the fact that the five straight is much faster than the main track as non-four; four-year-olds were clocked at 22.2 x 45.3 with a final time of 59.3. In doing so, Cruella with her fourth win from 11 starts has now left the conditioned ranks and will next race at the Overnight Allowance level.
RACE EIGHT – Trainer Ian Parsard recent drought came to an end when his filly Mila All That racing with the blinkers off left the yoke of the maiden tag behind. It was another winner for jockey Dane Dawkins.
RACE NINE – This race won by the Jason DaCosta trained Pretty Girl will be remembered for the historic achievement of jockey Omar Walker who registered win number 1,200. Congrats Champo! Racegoers take note of the first effort by newcomer Desha, who finished third.
RACE TEN – Atomica duly obliged in THE PORTMORE. Of necessity, this race will be dealt with separately.
RACE ELEVEN – An exciting win by Mahogany to seal a four-timer for jockey Dane Dawkins. Of necessity, this race will be dealt with separately.
