JAMAICA’S reigning champion jockey, Dane Nelson, continued to show his good form on foreign soil when he won two races from five rides on Derby Day at the Northlands Park racetrack in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada last Saturday.

Nelson, who is on a riding contract at the Assiniboia Downs racetrack in Winnipeg, made the trip to Northlands for the first time and got off the mark when he smartly guided the Tim Rycroft-trained Hero’s Amor to an upset win in the CA$50,000 Sonoma Handicap over one and one-sixteenth of a mile on the dirt track.

“To win a stakes race on my first ride at a new track is just wonderful. It is always good when you can showcase your talent worldwide and I am happy that I got the opportunity,” Nelson said in a telephone interview with the Complete Racing Guide.

Nelson then completed the double on Clear The Runway, who romped home to win the CA$50,000 Sun Sprint Championship for three-year-olds and upwards over six and a half furlongs again on the dirt track.

“Winning two races on any big day is great. People will always remember who won these races and as a jockey you will always get the recognition,” Nelson said.

In addition to his double, Nelson rode Witt Six for trainer Jerry Gourneau to a second position in the feature, the CA$200,000 Northlands Park Derby, a Grade Three event for three-year-olds.

“I really wanted to win the Northlands Derby but that didn’t happen. I am pleased for the second place,” said Nelson.

Nelson also finished second on his other ride, Canyontime, to cap off a rewarding day. “Two wins and two seconds from five rides is just good,” he declared.

Nelson, however, lost ground in the race for championship honours at Assiniboia Downs, as leader Jamaican Chavion Chow on Wednesday rode a triple to extend his lead.

With those three winners, Chow took his tally to 48 winners, five ahead of Rohan Singh on 43. Nelson, who was winless on the day, is tied for third place with Christopher Husbands on 41 winners.

The racing season at Assiniboia ends on September 7.