Although it is early days yet in the race for the jockeys’ championship, former champion Dick Cardenas declared his hand when he rode a vital three-timer to close the gap on the two-time defending champion Dane Nelson last Sunday. At present, Nelson is on 44 wins and Cardenas on 38. Nelson started the two-day weekend of racing eight winners ahead of the ‘Wild Coyote’. On Saturday, Nelson promptly increased the lead to nine when he rode the Richard Azan-trained Beckham to victory while Cardenas was winless. On day two, Cardenas responded by booting home a superb triple to reduce Nelson’s lead by six, as Nelson was winless. Cardenas winners were Ibelieve N Miracle, Insane Bolt and Miracle Star. The ride on Miracle Star was of a particularly high standard. Going to the lead from the start of the 1825-metre race, Miracle Star was challenged consistently by Raging Prospect (Ruja Lahoe) from five furlongs out. Yet Cardenas was not perturbed as he allowed Raging Prospect to take control while giving his horse a breather. In the straight, Cardenas stuck closely to the rails and brought Miracle Star with a telling effort to win in fine fashion.

‘BABA’ NUNES ENJOYING GOOD FORM

Second generation trainer Anthony ‘Baba’ Nunes gave a gentle reminder of his prowess with a fine double El Regalo (Shane Ellis) and Touch De Road (Ameth Robles) on Sunday. El Regalo went to the front and never looked back as the four-year filly was an easy winner going over 1,000 metres straight, while Touch De Road came with a strong run to beat Junior Don (Aaron Chatrie) by three-quarter lengths. With those two winners, Nunes moved to 16 for the year. He has a live shot in next week’s Derby with his charge Relampago who will thoroughly relish every inch of the

12-furlong race.

FIRST WINNER FOR RICARDO DUHANEY

Twenty-seven year-old Ricardo Duhaney was among the ranks of young boys who fell in love with horse racing. He was an exercise rider at the Park for a while before applying without success to enter the Jockeys’ School in Jamaica following which he left the country for Trinidad and Tobago where he earned his rider’s licence. Now back in the land of his birth, the young man started his career at home without much fanfare. In Sunday’s last race featuring $180,000 claimers going over five furlongs straight, Duhaney took that all-important step when he won his first race. Riding the Paul Smith trained Busy; Duhaney presented himself with a furlong to go pushing his mount to victory in front of There Goes Justin and Skipping Michelle. Now on the winning trail, we hope the young man will grow and develop by working hard. Congrats,

Mr Duhaney.

DAVIDAN ROBINSON QUIETLY MAKING STRIDES

He doesn’t get a lot of rides, but quietly Davidan Robinson one of the latest batch of apprentices, is making his presence felt. Robinson has been riding well and has scored six wins from 66 rides this season. This is after finding it difficult in the early part of his career to locate the winning post. Now he is looking better in the saddle and is riding with much more confidence. Robinson’s latest winner came on Sunday last when he got the job done on the Michael Beecham-trained Serious Business. Continue the progress,

Mr Robinson.