Superluminal gets better of Dontae
SIX-TIME champion jockey Omar Walker lit up yesterday’s Independence Day race meet with a three-timer – his first since returning from a wrist injury in January.
Scourging for rides outside Wayne DaCosta’s barn due to the champion trainer’s decision to invest in leading rider Anthony Thomas’ apprentice claim and veteran rider Gary Richards’ form earlier this season, Walker, who won his sixth jockeys’ title last year, is sixth in the standings on 26 winners.
Among Walker’s winners was 5-2 chance SUPERLUMINAL, who outbattled 4-5 favourite DONTAE, with Shane Ellis, to land the 10th race at 10 furlongs.
Walker had won the previous event astride PANDORA’S BOX, rallying the threeyear-old filly to chase and nab ARIA at the wire, winning the five and half maiden condition event by a neck.
Closing the double aboard Ian Parsard’s SUPERLUMINAL, Walker stalked the pace being set by BIBLICAL LEGEND and DYSFUNCTIONAL before joining the leaders at the half-mile.
DYSFUNCTIONAL tried peeling away, but SUPERLUMINAL, a former open allowance runner, had every answer and attacked to grab the lead, while DONTAE made his move to launch a challenge, coming off the home turn.
FINDING THE EXTRA
Ridden out in the stretch run, SUPERLUMINAL kept finding extra to hold DONTAE at bay, winning by a length, closing a three-timer for Walker, who had opened his account in the sixth race astride ALSO CORRECT.
Meanwhile, Thomas rode two winners on the 11-race card, his fifth in two meets, after booting home a three-timer on Saturday, which takes him 24 clear of Shane Ellis atop the jockeys’ standings.
Racing continues on Saturday.