Jockey Phillip Parchment stands tall in the saddle as he wins the 100th running of the Jamaica atop King Arthur. (Photo: Kimberly Bartlett)
Groom Leon Walker leads his Derby winner King Arthur back home. (Photo: Kimberly Bartlett)
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Since the restart of racing after the three-month break due to COVID-19 restrictions, trainer Wayne DaCosta has not been in the winners’ enclosure to greet his many winners.
Well today, DaCosta made the short trip from the trainers’ room to the winners’ circle to meet and celebrate with his upset 18-1 winner of the historic running of the 100th Jamaica Derby, King Arthur.
King Arthur owned by Carlton Watson and ridden by the resurgent Phillip Parchment won the 12-furlong contest beating Nipster and Another Affair.
“Before the rain started to come down about an hour before the running of the Derby, I gave King Arthur not much of a chance. But when the rain started to tumble down, I knew his chances of winning this Derby today (Saturday, October 31) has grown significantly.
“King Arthur is a big animal and with his size comes a lot of pestering injury issue. So for this Derby, we decided to remove the tongue tie and this move plus the sloppy race track worked in King’s Arthur’s favour.
“While I am personally happy to win my seventh Derby, I am even happier for owner Carlton Watson and jockey Phillip Parchment.
“Carlton has made significant investments in racing over many years and it has been an honour to train for him.
“He (Watson) truly deserves to win his first Derby.
“Parchment is the workman of the stables. He is present every day and does his tasks without any complaints.
“He (Parchment) also deserves to be on his first Derby winner," DaCosta told Quickgallop.com in his post race interview.
