KINGSTON, Jamaica – WHAT A RACE DAY. Saturday, May 8, 2021 will go down in racing history as the day when the first THE KINGSTON, a new racing innovation at 7 ½ furlongs was run.
THE KINGSTON
The day will also be remembered and cherished for the finish of THE KINGSTON – a dead heat involving Further and Beyond and Miniature Man.
In what was a finish to behold and savour forever, Miniature Man came from way behind to join Further and Beyond at the winning post for a share of the winner’s purse.
This kind of effort was expected from the two-year-old champion of last year Further and Beyond trained by champion Anthony Nunes who remains with the status of favourite for the Classic races which are now close by.
For Miniature Man, it was his best offering. When Miniature Man started his career as a two-year-old last season and in his subsequent races there was a clear picture that he was the sprinting sort. That changed at exercise and was brought to public notice on April 17 going a mile, when jockey Anthony Thomas had Miniature Man near to the leader then backed him out.
Circling horses with disdain leaving the three-furlong point in that April 17 contest, Miniature Man showed a liking for the longer distances which again came to the fore in THE KINGSTON.
The longer they go, the better Miniature Man will be as his breeding by Northern Giant would suggest.
Regal and Royal, who is at the non-winners of two-level, although finishing third in THE KINGSTON, ran his best race.
Trained by Gary Griffiths and ridden by Tevin Foster, Regal and Royal, raced on the front end and galloped resolutely and with the fight in his hoofs, losing by just 2 ¼ lengths. Regal and Regal now enters the category of ‘ONE TO WATCH’ as the Classic races draw closer.
Regarding THE KINGSTON, mention has to be made of the weight differences.
Further and Beyond allowed Miniature Man all of four kilogrammes while he gave away five kilogrammes to Regal and Royal. In that context, Further and Beyond is the clear and undoubted favourite for the one-mile 2000 Guineas in early June. Please remember that in the 2000 Guineas all horses will carry the same weight of 57.0 kgs.
In closing this recap of THE KINGSTON, take notice that trainer Jason DaCosta finished first, fourth and fifth in the event.
Just as a pointer, the time recorded by She’s A Wonder in the filly’s version of THE KINGSTON, THE PORTMORE last Saturday was two-fifths of a second faster than the final clocking of Miniature Man and Further and Beyond.
Interesting days are ahead!
TRAINERS
The lead trainers on the day was DaCosta who saddled two winners and Michael Marlowe. They both had two winners each.
JOCKEYS
Among the jockeys, Dick Cardenas who recently returned after a break rode three winners while not to be outdone Anthony Thomas had two wins on the day.
