Afternoon stroll for Peking Cruz
RICHARD AZAN’S 4-5 favourite, PEKING CRUZ, cruised, as expected, eased inside the last furlong by Robert Halledeen, flattering LOTTERY TICKET, who closed hopelessly for second, a length and a quarter away, in division one of yesterday’s overnight allowance at five furlongs straight.
However, Peter McMaster’s RAS EMANUEL, sent off at 5-2, got home not only by the shortest of margins, a nose, in division two, jockey Omar Walker had to survive an enquiry, after already losing the fourth event in the stewards’ room, following an objection by Aaron Chatrie aboard second-past-the-post LORD ASHTON.
Halledeen, who returned to close the rain-affected 10-race card aboard 5-2 shot, ALSO CORRECT, taking over three furlongs out from HAIL MARY in the seven and a half furlong optional claiming event, said PEKING CRUZ has rediscovered the form that took him to grade one as a three-year-old last season.
Breaking smartly from mid-pack in the nine-horse field, PEKING CRUZ was saved for the main track after galloping prominently alongside pesky K D FLYER coming out of the chute. Unleashed by Halledeen, PEKING CRUZ opened up on rivals entering the last furlong, allowing his rider to admire the field he left in his wake while easing down the chestnut gelding close home.
However, topweight and not-the-best-drawn RAS EMANUEL was made to sing for his supper, pushed to the last head bob by 6-1 outsider, SERGEANT RECKLESS, running 19lb lighter with apprentice Raddesh Roman.
Leaving unfavourable inside draws in underfoot conditions caused by constant rainfall, SERGEANT RECKLESS and RAS EMANUEL, who carried 126lb, both angled to mid-track, got rid of HONEY RYDA inside the last furlong and a half and made the event a private battle, even though nine-year-old CAMPESINO tried to make a race of it by closing on the inside.
Surging to the winning post, side-by-side, separated by nothing but their saddle cloths, RAS EMANUEL on the outside and SERGEANT RECKLESS on the inner, flashed past the post glued together, putting the photo-finish apparatus to work.
After the film was developed, it was the experienced Walker, a six-time champion, who prevailed over the apprentice approaching his first year in the saddle.
Apprentice Kiaman McGregor notched back-to-back winners, scoring easily aboard old stager PHINEAS, before completing his double at the expense of leading rider and fellow apprentice, Christopher Mamdeen, who he used 8-1 SALAH to run down and ‘bulb shot’ TRICKY ONE, stealing home as the 3-5 favourite at a mile in the ninth event.
Racing continues at Caymanas Park on Saturday.