KINGSTON, Jamaica – Co-champion jockey Anthony Thomas known to all as ‘St Mary’ highlighted the 10-race card at Caymanas Park with a spanking triple.
Thomas is now leading the other co-champion, Dane Nelson, by 15 wins with Dick Cardenas third, 21 behind Nelson and 36 adrift of Thomas.
These days, Thomas rarely goes a race day without riding a winner as his continued attachment to the Jason DaCosta stables plus rooted association with hot barns like Gregory Forsyth and others guarantees the winners, Thomas requires to win his third title.
Nelson’s form has dropped off in recent weeks with the ‘Warrior Chief’ being winless on Saturday (July 31).
Nelson has come off the boil and that coincides with the recent dip in form of champion trainer Anthony Nunes.
In the past, Nelson has shown his quality and toughness when he was 16 wins behind six-time champion Omar Walker only to rally in the latter part of the season to win the championship.
Nunes stocks while on a low currently, is sure to pick up especially with the two-year-old season getting underway on Tuesday next (August 3).
Thomas is blazing a hot trail but don’t think the race for the jockeys’ championship is done yet.
Thomas’ winners on Saturday (July 31) were Mr Lyndhurst for Forsyth, Fearless Champion for DaCosta, and Double Crown for trainer Ian Parsard.
The ride on Double Crown is of note. Thomas had Double Crown much closer to the leader than is usual and then made his move rounding the turn for the straight.
In a thrilling finish in the Legal Light Trophy, one of best local-bred horses to ever race at Caymanas Park, jockey Robert Halledeen was at this best aboard Crimson as they held off the late surge from oldster Hover Craft to win the $1.5 million Open Allowance/Graded Stakes feature event over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) yesterday.
Known in the racing circle as “Hardball”, Halledeen was patient from the start of the race as he held the Gary Subratie trainee off the pace in fourth place going around the clubhouse turn and onto the main track.
Awesome Treasure (Dane Dawkins) and Eagle One (Dick Cardenas) dictated the early fractions down the backstretch with King Arthur (Anthony Thomas) racing in third place.
Halledeen made his move approaching the half-mile (800m) turn when Crimson went in chase of Eagle One. Hitting the front full of running, Crimson looked the likely winner in deep stretch but the five-year-old bay gelding began to shorten inside the final furlong and this was when Halledeen had to use his experience, strength, and skill to drive Crimson home ahead of the fast-finishing Hover Craft, ridden by apprentice Jordan Barrett.
Crimson (Nuclear Wayne – Sarah Barracuda) won by a nose from the 11-year-old bay gelding. Horse of the Year Nipster, who looked threatening at the top of the lane, finished in third place under Shane Ellis. The final time for the event was 1:57.1.
DaCosta saddled two winners, Fearless Champion and Heart of the Sea (Abigail Able) in the eighth.
Dick Cardenas also had a double in Mirabilis in the second race for trainer Johnny Wilmot and Vanessa in the 10th and final event for trainer Nunes.
0 Responses
ST MARY IS HOT LIKE FIRE,HE A GOOD RIDER AND CAN ONLY GET BETTER,HE'S MORE REFINED IN HIS RIDING STYLE AND NOT AS RUGGED AS A KING PHILLIP PARCHMENT OR A ROBERT HALADEEN.IF HE STAYS HUNGRY FOR WINNING ,THEN I THINK HE'S A CINCH FOR ANOTHER TITLE.
THIS TRIVIA IS GOING OUTTO JD GALLOP,I KNOW YOURE A HISTORIAN OF THE GAME,SO HERE GOES.WHICH HORSE AND JOCKEY WAS THE LAST TO WIN A RACE AT CAYMANAS BY MEANS OF A ROPE START,THIS HAPPENED LONG AGO...GOOD LUCK
True about Thomas but rope race even at my age that is before my time. Thanks again for commenting.
thanks for replying jd,the trivia answer still hangs in the balance,to anyone who remembers the incident when the starting gates malfuncioned..anyone