Hail Vonalmighty in Armond Mem Cup
Despite not the force of yesteryear, Vonalmighty turned back the clock among $350,000-$300,000 claimers and romped the $492,000 Altamont V Armond Memorial Cup highlighter by 7 1/2 lengths at Caymanas Park yesterday.
However, the nine-race card was further highlighted by champion jockey Dane Nelson who rode a four-timer to answer the four-timer compiled in midweek by four-time champion jockey Omar Walker.
Nelson opened the programme on Commander One in the first, then had the leg up on Region De Naskra in the fifth, Austin Luke in the sixth and Cantare in the eighth.
Vonalmighty, the 6-5 odds on favourite, trained by Ian Parsard for owner Raymond Townsend and piloted to victory by Omar Walker, turned the form around after taking a drop three grades down to run 2,000 metres in a time of 2:12.0 among three-year-olds upward and native-bred five-year-olds (NW3) claimers.
Not the best away from barrier #2, Walker took his time recovering with Vonalmighty to be in striking distance before fifth-place finisher General C, ridden by leading claiming apprentice Shameree Muir, took over the lead.
However, Walker put Vonalmighty back in front entering the final 600 metres to bring them in the lane. With no more bends to negotiate, Vonalmighty then galloped on unmolested, leaving the rest of the field to fight for the minor places.
Cruiser also had a taste of the lead, but followed Vonalmighty into the lane. He seemed to lose momentum until recovering sufficiently to go past tired horses in the final rush for the wire to be second at odds of 7-2 and ridden by Davidan Robinson.
Saint Mary, the mount of Roderick DaCosta, was third another two lengths back with the 12-1 chance D’Nugget ridden by Trevor Simpson completing the frame in the field of 13.
It was the first win with Vonalmighty for trainer Parsard since claiming the two-turn specialist for a $600,000 tag and he was happy with the win saying: “Winning is the game and I thought he ran well.” Vonalmighty was very well ridden by jockey Walker who reserved him for the final kick.
Vonalmighty, a seven-year-old bay gelding by Western Classic out of Lunar Explosion (Outflanker) bred by Ham Stables Ltd, was winning for the 10th time from 65 career starts and earned $492,000 as the winner’s share for a bankroll of $5,999,000 lifetime.