FIRST-TIME WINNERS

Two horses, Runner Runner and Dash Board, along with trainer Christopher Pierre, won races for the first time this season. Runner Runner (Adore The Gold – Up For Gold) was driven flat to the wire by Shane Ellis to beat Teisha’s Dream (Robert Halledeen) by three-quarters of a length over 1,000 metres round in a native-bred four-year-olds and upward event. Dash Board (Deputy’s Report – Grand Prix) from the barn of Tensang Chung made an impressive debut, winning a native-bred three-year-old fillies event over 1,300 metres. Dash Board, ridden by Richard Lunan, came with a telling run turning for home and after picking up the lead at the 250-metre pole, cantered home easily to beat Doolahin by four-and-a-half lengths in 1:22:3 minutes.

“The race wasn’t that difficult. Coming around the home bend when I asked her to go, she just blew past the others horses, so the only thing I had to do was just steer her to the wire,” Lunan said.

Pierre’s first winner came when the Miss Suckie – owned Explosive Princess romped home easily in a non-winners of two event going over 1,200 metres.

SIX CLAIMS ON SATURDAY’S CARD

Following the claiming of 20 horses on the last two race days, the claiming box again continued to attract some attention with six claims being made on the 11-race programme on Saturday. In the day’s first race on a $180,000 claiming tag, Lovetta Jones was claimed by Howard Jaghai for Harry Jaghai from Harry Parsard, and Miracle Recovery was claimed by Howard McLeod for Phillip Edwards from Michael Beecham. In the sixth race, runaway winner Light Brigade was taken from Steven Todd by Lawrence Freemantle acting as both trainer and owner for $180,000. Carl Anderson claimed Star New Vista from Harry Parsard for himself for $600,000; Wayne DaCosta lost his chestnut filly Miss Juanita to Gary Crawford for Mr Kash for $600,000 and the Ryan Darby-trained Classy Prospect was claimed by Victor Williams for DSTL and Associates for $550,000 for the 11th and final event.

Force de Jour makes it four

While it can be said that it has happened often in the past, nowadays it is a one-off that we see a horse winning four consecutive races. Such was the case on Saturday with four-year-old bay colt Force De Jour.

Force De Jour started on August 29 on a $450,000 -$400,000 claiming tag when he was driven flat to the wire by Shane Ellis going over 1,100 metres. He was then stepped up on a $600,000 – $550,000 claiming tag on September 5 and easily won by four lengths going over 1,000 metres straight.

Force De Jour was then asked to compete in Overnight Allowance company and again, the bang in-form colt eased to a one-length victory over 1,000 metres straight.

Then came last Saturday when Force De Jour stepped down the ladder, this time going 1,400 metres on a $600,000 – $550,000 claiming tag. With Paul Francis in the saddle, Force De Jour made all convincingly to win by three-and-three-quarter lengths over Miss Juanita (Robert Halledeen) and New Star Vista (Shamaree Muir) in 1:26:3 minutes.

The importee now boasts a record of five wins, one second-place finish and two thirds from 11 starts this season with earnings of $1,966,100. His lifetime performance chart reads nine wins, three seconds and two thirds from 20 starts, with earnings of $4,092,950.