O’Shaun Connection’s Reggae Princess went from gate to wire to win the $462,000 Clifford Stewart Memorial Cup claiming feature by six lengths at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Trained by Victor Williams and installed the 6-5 favourite, the six-year-old dark bay mare, ridden by Paul Francis, ran 1,200 metres in a good time of 1:13.3 among $250,000 – $220,000 claimers for three-year-old and upward, native-bred five-year-olds (NW2) and six-year-olds (NW4).

Claimed out of her last race for a tag of $350,000 and immediately downgraded to $250,000, Reggae Princess was returning to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since last November when she won on a $450,000 claiming tag over 1,100 metres.

Sir Jaadu Baba, well supported as a 9-2 bet ridden by claiming apprentice Arthur Budhu, finished second after failing to get on terms with the winner leaving the 700-metre pole. Dollar Win, the top-weighted 3-1 chance ridden by Omar Walker showed another 7 1/2 lengths adrift with Miss Crystal, who led from the off until overhauled by the winner, plodded on under champion jockey Dick Cardenas to complete the Superfecta in the field of nine.

Reggae Princess, by Royal Minister out of the Lady Kayla (Devil His Due) bred by Phillip Liu was winning for the eighth time from 45 career starts and earned $252,250 as the winner’s share for earnings of $3,443,950 lifetime.

Meanwhile, earlier, the Elias Haloute & Amber Stewart-owned four-year-old colt Saragossa upstaged his more illustrious imported counterparts to win the $786,600 Open Allowance three-year-olds and upward dash over 1,000 metres round by four lengths.

Trained by Anthony Nunes, Saragossa, a 3-1 chance ridden by Cardenas, took advantage of his mere 53.0kg to run the distance in a time of 59.1 seconds to open his four-year-old season after three starts.

Palace Gold, a four-year-old filly ridden by Paul Francis and neglected in the betting at odds of 18-1 was second with the 6-5 favourite Rio Cobre third and stablemate New Kingston at 46-1 completing the field of eight under Devon A Thomas.

Nunes and Victor Williams took training honours with two wins each, while Cardenas was the day’s most successful rider with three wins.