Toona Ciliata sits in the ‘Chairman’s’ seat
Race review for Saturday, March 20, 2021
A 14th-length maiden winner over this 1100-metre trip back in January suggested that it was only a matter of time before Gordon Lewis’s fouryear-old gelding Helicopter returned to the winners’ enclosure, and infrequently engaged Chaldrick Budhai made full use of his first 2021 ride on the 3/1 chance.
The durable professional maiden Sniper Man (Romario Spencer), out for his 20th start, ended the frustrations of breeder-owner-trainer Lorenzo Robinson with victory in the 1000-metre round second event. It was the ninth time the colt was making the frame.
Saint Michael (Paul Francis) did enough to justify odds-on favouritism in the 1500-metre third event for trainer Johnny Wilmot to win his fifth race of the year.
Inconsistent Danceall night ridden by Shane Richardson and trained by Steven Todd won the 1100-metre fourth at odds of 21/1, which proved to be a totally surprising result for the exotic players.
The 9/2 starting price for Killer Bee (Roger Hewitt) in the 1200-metre fifth was even more surprising than the mere odds suggest as this was not the mare’s optimum trip, but she nevertheless wore down odds-on favourite Awesome Aviator for trainer Byron Davis’s third win of the season.
Prominent for a long way with a slipped saddle on the last occasion, Moviestar returning a week later did trainer Colin Ferguson and owner The Seeker a good turn with a game effort which allowed for 2019 champion jockey Christopher Mamdeen to win the 1300metre sixth and the first of a double on the day.
This ensured the Reggae Six winner was rewarded to the tune of over $9 million.
Mamdeen guided breeder-owner-trainer Carl Anderson’s promising colt T Brady to victory in the 1400metre maiden ninth to confirm his double.
Defeat was out of the question for Richard Azan’s consistent colt Laban in the 1200-metre seventh, having finished less than two lengths behind the progressive, Us-bred Solid Approach five weeks ago. Always stalking the battling leaders Lure of Lucy and Hoist The Mast, Dick Cardenas did not even ask for a serious effort to win by over six lengths at odds of 5/2.
Racing for the 19th occasion a week ago, Us-bred filly No Work Permit won at odds of 5/1 for trainer Patrick “Wacky” Lynch. On this occasion the filly was taking on much stronger opposition and the odds against reflected that fact. Ridden by the clever and in form Javaniel Patterson, the finishing speed and stamina of the little bay was utilised to perfection to secure 15/1 for her backers in the 1820-metre eighth event.
The feature 1500-metre Chairman’s Trophy went to Toona Ciliata who was gifted the event with only 55 kilogrammes to tote. Always disputing the lead, Dane Nelson sent the gelding to the front in the upper stretch and he denied the strong finish of Sentient by half a length.
Veteran reinsman Devon A Thomas was presented with a runaway by trainer Lawrence Freemantle, with 4/1 chance Another Commander always clear to beat its closest rival by eight lengths in the nightcap.
The Training Feat Award is presented to conditioner Lynch for posting No Wok Permit to win a more challenging event a week later, and the filly posted the Best Winning Gallop in response to Javaniel Patterson’s consummate riding skills for yet another Jockeyship Award.