The free-running Destiny’s Choice produced a gate-to-wire performance to win the annual renewal of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association of Jamaica Trophy in fine style at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Trained by Gary Subratie and ridden by Aaron ‘Iceman’ Chartrie, Destiny’s Choice (City Place-Promise Promise by Deputy Minister) was sent off at odds of 6-1 among 10 runners in the 1,400-metre event.

Destiny’s Choice broke well and was sent to the lead by her rider over Herecomesthebreeze (O’Brien White up) and the 2-1 favourite Semper Fidelis (Dick Cardenas aboard) with Xquisite Choice (Davidan Robinson up) in fourth passing the 1,200-metre point.

As the runners sorted themselves out, Destiny’s Choice continued to lead with Striking Distance (Shamaree Muir up) slipping down into second on the inside of Xquisite Choice approaching the final bend.

When asked to go by Chatrie, Destiny’s Choice responded well and drew away from the field turning for home and although drifting to left in the final 200 metres, had done enough to hold on for a comfortable two-and-a-quarter lengths victory over Xquisite Choice, who was a neck in front of the fast-finishing Israelite, the mount of Richard Mitchell.

Semper Fidelis completed the frame in a moderate time of 1:28:3 minutes with splits 24:0, 47:1 and 1:12.2.

“This horse is a nice horse, I know how to ride her and today (yesterday) she came good. The race was pretty much easy for me, but the plan was to get a clean break and ride her for the last 200 metres and it paid off well,” Chatrie said.

Destiny’s Choice was the first of two winners for Chatrie as he completed the double in the final race over 1,000 metres straight aboard the Arnold Rambally Jnr-owned and trained Pegasus at 36-1.

Meanwhile, the late-kicking grey, The Guv came with a storming run to win the Bowden Estate Limited event, for Overnight Allowance horses going over 1,100 metres.

Ridden by two-time defending champion jockey Dane Nelson, the Spencer Chung-trained The Guv got off to his usual slow start and was held in seventh position behind the leaders Willie Goldsmith (Paul Francis), Street Dancer (Dick Cardenas) and Campesino (Percival Williams) passing the 800-metre pole.

Turning for home some six lengths in fifth position on the inside, as Campesino surged to the lead and looked like the winner at the furlong pole, Nelson then switched his mount to the outside and after a superb 50-metre run the eight-year-old horse by Royal Minister- Havasac got up in the nick of time to beat Campesino by a head with Uncle Taf (Oneil Mulling) getting third ahead of Street Dancer.

The winning time was 1:07.2 minutes.

Racing continues on Wednesday with the 51st running of the Prime Minister’s Stakes (GR1), for three-year-old and upwards over 2,000 metres.