The day Anthony Thomas ruled
Review of race day — Sunday, March 21, 2021
THE good form of second-generation conditioner Ryan Darby continued in the 1500-metre opening event with a predictable victory by 5/2 chance
Sir Puddington (Matthew Bennett) as there was never an anxious moment for the backers of the six-year-old gelding who had his opponents struggling in Indian file, with main rivals never closer than two lengths in the home stretch.
Apprentice Youville Pinnock won the 800-metre straight on trainer Philip Lee’s Miss AJC at odds of 5/2 and both jockey and trainer are deserving of more opportunities, but such are the vagaries of the sport as there is always a huge element of luck defining success.
Robert Pearson’s Purple Wayne duly cantered in as 2/5 favourite by over five lengths with Dane Nelson in the 1600metre third event.
The hour reserved for race four, the 1000-metre round maiden event and race five, the 1000-metre straight event, belonged to third-generation trainer Steven Todd.
Aaron Chatrie used his experience to guide the hard-knocking filly Jah send blessings, racing for the 11th time, to one-length success followed by Anthony Thomas who kept Dee Danger four lengths clear of rivals. It was Todd’s ninth trip to the winners’ enclosure this year.
Joint 2020 champion Thomas was only warming up as he added a second when the speedy Mr Universe notched his 12th career success from 41 starts for trainer Gregory Forsyth’s fourth success of the season.
Victor Williams also saddled his fourth winner of the season when Regnant (Shane Ellis), runner-up in the Sir Howard Stakes, confirmed his promise in winning by over four lengths in the 1300-metre seventh event.
Thomas, with one still to come for a four-timer, confirmed his best day in the saddle this season when Wayne Dacosta’s promising filly Sensational Ending demonstrated that being away since September was not a deterrent to a winning gallop in the 1000metre round event.
Trained by Johnny Wilmot, the form of Latapy returned by six lengths in the 1400-metre ninth event, thereby presenting Dane Nelson with one of his easiest double-closing paydays since the start of the season.
Having scored by 17 lengths over a similar distance in the race prior, it was hardly likely Hover Craft (Anthony Thomas) would have been defeated in the day’s 1820-metre ninth. Us-based Jason Dacosta, son of Wayne, continues to do a marvellous job with the stable while dad recuperates, and today’s double is ample evidence of this young man’s promise as a likely top flight conditioner.
Trainer Patrick Lynch posted the consistent Executive Chief to narrow all but a one-length decisive victory in the nightcap under a smooth ride from Dick Cardenas.
The Training Feat Award is presented to Jason Dacosta for the performance of 11-year-old battler Hover Craft who has now won 20 races from 127 starts. The gelding displayed the Best Winning Gallop under the guidance of Thomas who gets yet another Jockeyship Award.