In-form jockey Robert Halledeen continued to show progress in the saddle when he rode a truly magnificent race aboard Long Running Train to win the top-rated Open Allowance event at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Long Running Train broke well, but Halledeen held the American-bred bay filly into second position behindMiracle Star (Jerome Innis up), withBrawn, under Aaron Cahtrie, andHoudini’s Magic, the mount of Shane Ellis, in close touch behind.

When the pace increased approaching the half-mile, Halledeen sent through

Long Running Train and opened up some two lengths on the field coming into the home stretch.

Despite the late appearance of

Brawn in the final furlong, the strong, vigorous and energetic Halledeen droveLong Running Train to a short head victory in the three-year-olds and upward event over 1,500 metres.

Houdini’s Magic was a further two lengths adrift in third position ahead ofTraditional Prince, under Jevvanne Erwin, in fourth in the five-horse field afterPhineas was scratched earlier.

The winning time was a very good 1:31.0 minutes, which is just one and three-fifths of a second slower than the track record of 1:29.2 minutes.

Earlier, Halledeen, the man racing fans dubbed “Hitman”, steered the Peter McMaster-trained

Ras Emanuel to a one-and-a-half length victory in the Master Blaster Trophy feature over 1,000 metres straight.

Ras Emanuel won ahead ofGold Member,Prolific Princess andWell Blessed in a time of 59.3 seconds.

Paul Hylton was the pick of the trainers with two winners. Hylton saddled

Yolove in the first race andEternal Joy in the fifth race.

Racing continues on Saturday with the running of $1.2-million Reggae Trophy, where

Poker Star,Campesino andBuzz Nightmare will face off.