To say that newly crowned champion owner Carlton Watson is on a high would be a gross understatement. Eleven winners over the last two-and-a-half weeks is quite an achievement. Watson completed the rare feat of walking into the winner’s enclosure four times on Saturday last, following wins by Royal Vibes, Jovoun The Master, Mr Luval, and Spic N Span. Needless to say, Watson has jumped out into a substantial lead in the owners’ championship, closely followed, however, by Elite Bloodstock who has also started the new season with a bang. A great achievement, Watson is now reaping success for the rather large investment he has made in horse racing.

DACOSTA-CARDENAS COMBO ON A ROLL

It is early days in the new racing season, yet 13-time champion trainer Wayne DaCosta is already setting a torrid pace in the championship. DaCosta has, over the three race days for the year, saddled five winners from just nine starts. He leads in the trainers’ championship ahead of Richard Azan and Lawrence Freemantle, respectively. DaCosta seems to have settled into a partnership with Dick Cardenas and the two are really making hay while the sun shines. For his part, Cardenas has ridden six winners since the start of the season from just 16 rides, to share the lead along with Dane Neslon in the jockeys’ championship. The combination of DaCosta and Cardenas enjoyed a triple on Saturday with Royal Vibes, Mr Luval and Italiano.

LAWRENCE ‘KUMI’ FREEMANTLE OFF TO A GOOD START

Trainer Lawrence ‘Kumi’ Freemantle is enjoying a rather good start to the racing year. Freemantle, who has been around the racing business for quite a while, scored a double on Saturday when his charges Jovoun the Master and Spic N Span got the job done. ‘Kumi’ has now saddled three winners for the year to occupy third position in the trainer’s championship behind leader Wayne DaCosta and Richard Azan. Continued success, Mr Freemantle.

RICHARD AZAN TAKING CHARGE OF THE THREE-YEAR-OLDS

Trainer Richard Azan is really pumping up the volume when it comes to the three-year-olds. Last Saturday there were two races confined to the age group and Azan won both. The first was Frangipani in the day’s opener followed immediately by first-time runner Cognac. Azan closed last season with a bang and has really stepped up since January 1. So far, Azan has saddled three winners for the year, backed up by three second positions and two third places. These successes have allowed him to occupy second position in the trainers’ championship.

RARE WINNER FOR DELROY BEHARIE

Jockey Delroy Beharie scored one of his rare winners on Saturday when he piloted Frangipani to victory over the five straight course. Frangipani defeated her more fancied stable companion Zeeva, with Dane Nelson in the saddle.

Keep up the work Mr Beharie and more winners will come.

NINE HORSES CLAIMED ON SATURDAY

Nine claims took place on last Saturday’s 11-race programme at Caymanas Park.

Lovetta Jones was claimed by trainer Robert Alveranga for owner Somora Clarke for $350,000; Our Creation was claimed by trainer Ray Phillips for owner Osbourne Myrie for $300,000; and Jovoun The Master was claimed by trainer Renex Burrell for owner Leroy A Williams for $350,000 from the fourth race.

Natural Fantasy was claimed by trainer Fitzgerald Richard for owner Nigel Dunn for $180,000; Spic N Span was claimed by trainer Conroy Tulloch for owner Ramone for $180,000; and Bredda Pappa was claimed by trainer Steven Todd for owner Lops Company Ltd for $180,000 from the sixth race.

Lady Tereeka was claimed by trainer Tensang Chung for Delcar Stables for $180,000; Step It Up was claimed by trainer O’Neil Markland for owner Rohan Gordon for $180,000; and Patch A Fire was claimed by Dave Girod acting as both owner and trainer for $180,000 from the final event.

St Nicholas Abbey euthanized after bout of colic

St Nicholas Abbey, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2011 along with five other top-level races in a five-year career, has died after a bout of colic.

Coolmore Stables released a statement on Tuesday saying the seven-year-old St Nicholas Abbey had to be “euthanized on humane grounds” in Fethard, Ireland, after surgery revealed “severe strangulating colon torsion”.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained horse was retired last July because of injury. He won the Coronation Cup at Epsom for three consecutive years from 2011-13.