Race Day Review — Sun, March 24, 2024
THE opening event was staged in front of a subdued Sunday audience in response to the possible promise of a lack of excitement.
The 1,400-metre contest was secured by 5-2 bet Diamond Rock, who sprinted throughout to score by six lengths under two-kilogramme claimer Ramon Nepare. This performance confirmed the excellent conditioning of Diamond Rock by owner/ trainer Courtney Williams.
Only six were declared for the second event over 1,200 metres and two were fallers before halfway. Bet sceptically at odds of 7/2,
Big Argument was always going best and scored by three and a half lengths for veteran reinsman Paul Francis’ first of two on the card but had to survive a steward’s inquiry.
Former six-time champion Omar Walker had a simple task to pilot 1-2 favourite Great Trick, saddled by Gary Griffiths to a 12-¼ romp over the 1,400 metres of race three.
Sent off at 16/1, 10-year-old gelding Secret Traveller, not known for short sprints, surprised over the 1,000 metres of the straight course in the fourth event. Phillip Parchment rode a masterfully strong last 100 metres to secure victory by three parts of a length for trainer Oral Hayden.
In winning race five, former three-time champion Anthony Nunes saddled the opener of a three-timer, which could have been four. Power From Above (2-1) outstayed eight rivals over 1,600 metres to score by three and half lengths with Matthew Bennett aboard. The four-year-old filly showed significant promise last season but had a setback and now looks likely to improve.
Nunes was out of luck in race six, when his débutante, Irish Wish (4-5), ridden by Robert Halledeen, ran greenly over the 1,100 metres when it mattered. The useful looking colt won but got into the path of runner-up
Midnight Galaxy (Ruja Lahoe). Starting at odds of 3-1 the filly was awarded the race for trainer Gresford Smith to open his 2024 account with this his ninth start.
Owned and trained by veteran Randolph Scott, Read my lips (Oneil Mullings) was a runaway in race seven. The little progeny of Wannabe a player led easily and increased her advantage to just over 13 lengths at the finish of the 1,100-metre sprint to reward form players odds of 8-5.
For the second of his stable’s treble, it was Nunes time again in the featured 1,200-metre Sir Howard Stakes run as race eight.
Ridden by champion Reyan Lewis, Allegiance (9-1) raced off the pace to the top of the stretch. Making steady headway from this point, the Classic aspirant wore down 4-5 favourite J Speith (Tevin Foster) to prevail by a half a length.
Confirming her affinity to the 1,000-metre straight course, Volatility (9-5) sprinted gamely to score by a neck to confirm the Nunes stable’s best day this season.
Paul Francis, in securing his riding double, had to deploy the full range of his skill set in the final stages to keep Volatility’s advantage.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Oral Hayden for the performance of the aging Secret Traveller to deliver the Best Winning Gallop. Phillip Parchment handling of the old battler is deserving of the Jockeyship Award.