1 SEEKING MY DREAM WINS INAUGURAL SUPREME VENTURES LIMITED DIAMOND MILE

For sure, the victory by Seeking My Dream in the inaugural staging of the $13.5-million Supreme Ventures Limited Diamond Mile Race was a supreme hit and, thus, is chosen as the top achievement for 2015. After finishing second twice to Superluminal in the St Leger and Phineas in the Coca-Cola Invitational Mile, the now four-year-old chestnut colt Seeking My Dream (Seeking The Glory–Alsafra by Legal Process) turned up when it mattered most by producing what can only be described as a scintillating performance to beat Grade One rivals by two-and-a-quarter lengths in the eight-furlong race. Racing fans at the park, and those who watched across the country on television or listened on the radio, were simply stunned as Seeking My Dream created history as he lifted himself and the sport to a higher level. Four-time champion jockey Omar Walker was the pilot for record 15-time champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, who must be commended for his work as the conditioner.

2 PERFECT NEIGHBOUR WINS ALEX’S IMPORTS GOLD CUP

The 2015 Gold Cup, which was sponsored by Alex’s Imports Limited, is the top handicap race during the local season and the Wayne DaCosta-conditioned Perfect Neighbour, under Robert Halledeen, produced a performance analysts were describing as one for the ages. The then five-year-old dark bay horse by Natural Selection–Desperatehousewife by Ghost Ransom, who continues to show improvement with age and whose matured run showed his true fighting spirit, came with an electrifying run in deep stretch to beat Uppa Tune by one-and-a-half lengths in the seven-furlong event, a distance which is short of his best. Uppa Tune, with Paul Francis in the saddle, did nothing wrong. The None Such Sprint Trophy winner sat behind the pace set by Fortuneonehundred, then made his move at the right time approaching the home bend, but was unable to withstand the late burst of energy from Perfect Neighbour yards away from the winning post.

3 PERFECT NEIGHBOUR SECOND IMPRINT ON HARRY JACKSON MEMORIAL

It was a performance of notable significance. It was a performance which capped a season of four wins from 11 starts ranging from the distance of seven furlongs to 12 furlongs. Such was the effect of the two-length win by 2013 Derby winner in the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup (12 furlongs) on Boxing Day. Perfect Neighbour’s win over Long Running Train and Typewriter, not only vaulted the five-year-old into Horse of the Year contention, but it has also established him as the best stayer in the land. Perfect Neighbour, with Orlando Foster in the saddle, watched proceedings from second position as Typewriter under Dane Nelson set the early fractions. Perfect Neighbour then took over the lead at the six-furlong point and cruised home in a time of 2:35.3 minutes. He is a most worthy contender for Horse of the Year.

4 SEEKING MY DREAM FULFILS DREAM IN DERBY WIN

After nearly 40 years as an owner in thoroughbred racing, Derrick Smith finally fulfilled his lifelong dream of winning the Derby when Seeking My Dream easily won the 95th running of the Blue Riband event sponsored by Cal’s Manufacturing Limited. The Jamaica Labour Party member of parliament made his intentions known from early in the career of Seeking My Dream when he said publicly that the reason he so named the horse was to win the Derby. It was also a dream come true for jockey Omar Walker who, despite winning the jockeys’ championship four times, was unable to leave his mark on a Derby, a situation he dealt with in decisive fashion with a textbook ride on Seeking My Dream. For trainer Wayne DaCosta, the Derby was a case of ‘same old, same old’, as the 14-time champion trainer was recording his fifth Derby success. This time, however, he went one better, as second past the post, Ali Baba, was also trained by DaCosta. Definitely, the best three-year-old of 2015.

5 FRANFIELD SUPERSTAKES WIN

In a dramatic turn-up for the books, laced with an official enquiry and a jockey’s objection, the Richard Azan-trined Franfield, ridden by legendary Winston Griffiths, survived to record his biggest ever win. The enquiry surrounded an incident approaching the half mile when Franfield made his telling move, and in doing so, Wesley Henry aboard leader Uncle Taf seemingly pulled his mount and caused an interference to Perfect Neighbour. The jockey’s objection was lodged by Robert Halledeen, who rode Perfect Neighbour. The stewards in a public announcement said they had interviewed Henry and he informed them that his horse Uncle Taf was not interfered with by Franfield and that his horse had simply shied away. So after those melodramatic events, Franfield was officially declared the winner of the 37th running of the Superstakes with a winning time for 10 furlongs of 2:08.2 minutes. It was Azan’s ninth Superstakes wins, while Griffiths was recording his eighth.

6 FUTURE KING IN THE SVL JAMAICA TWO-YEAR-OLD STAKES

On August 1, 2015, Future King, a two-year-old dark bay colt by Natural Selection out of Millenium Princess, made his first assured steps on the racetrack and was second behind Dreamliner over 1,000 metres before breaking his maiden on September 5, 2015 over 1,100 metres in 1:08.1 minutes. He was then beaten again by Dreamliner and Nuclear Affair in the Cash Pot ‘Only One For Me’ Trophy, the first leg in the series, and then finished second to Sorrentino’s Star in the Pick3 Super Challenge Trophy, the second leg in the series. The late-kicking sort then produced a tremendous stretch run to win the last leg in the series — The Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes over 1,600 metres — in an impressive 1:38.4 minutes. The win earned him the position of top juvenile in the land.

7 THREE FEMALE APPRENTICES GRADUATE

History was created last September when, for the first time in the country’s racing history, three women — Natalie Berger, Andree Powell and Mellisa Ward — graduated among 17 apprentices from the 2015 Jamaica Racing Commission’s Jockeys’ Training School. They began riding at Caymanas Park on September 26, 2015 with Ward winning four races to date, including a double, while Berger and Powell are yet to taste victory.

8 SORRENTINO’S STAR PICK3 SUPER CHALLENGE TROPHY WIN

In a reversal of the form books, the Philip Feanny-trained Sorrentino’s Star produced a scintillating run in deep stretch to win the Pick3 Super Challenge Trophy, the second leg in the SVL ‘Triple Crown’ series on November 28, 2015 over 1,400 metres in 1:26.3 minutes. It was a performance of dominance as Sorrentino’s Star, who was a maiden, defeated a field of winning horses. A performance like that must be recognised.

9 POKER STAR’S CARIBBEAN SPRINT WIN

In another impressive display of class and talent, Poker Star crippled rivals in deep stretch to win the 27th running of the $1.75-million Burger King-sponsored Glen Mills Caribbean Sprint Championship in front of a huge turnout at Caymanas Park on November 14. It was the bay gelding’s second consecutive victory and fourth last season from eight starts as he became the first from his batch of three-year-olds to win at the highest level (Grade One). Poker Star, under Robert Halledeen, won by three-and-a-quarter lengths in a very fast and career best 1:11.0 minutes.

10 FORCE DE JOUR WINS SIX RACES IN A ROW

While it can be rightly said that it has happened in the past, nowadays it is a rarity to witness a horse winning six races in a row, especially in claiming races. On November 4, 2015, Force De Jour completed his sixth-consecutive victory in four months when he won in high claiming ($550,000-$500,000) over 1,100 metres. Force De Jour started the winning streak on August 29 over 1,100 metres and has since triumphed three times over the five-straight course, including in an Overnight Allowance event, once over seven furlongs and now twice over 1,100 metres. Force De Jour’s winning streak came to an end when he was beaten into sixth place by Seeking My Dream on November 14 in the Coca-Cola Invitational Mile. However, the American-bred bay colt has won another race after that, taking his tally to eight wins in the 2015 season. This is really an outstanding achievement and must be recognised.