Wire-to-wire win for Awesome Destiny
After recent struggles in search of finding the form of American-bred Awesome Destiny , trainer Gary Subratie is indicating that his charge is heading into the right direction after a fighting win at the Overnight Allowance level last Saturday.
All attention was on first-time starter in Jamaica, the English-bred Kalamata ( Sir Percy – Kalamkas), ridden by Javaniel Patterson, but the dark bay filly came up short as Awesome Destiny (Dane Dawkins) made every post a winning one in the nine furlong and 25-yard (1,820m) event for three-year-olds and upwards.
Since finishing a close second to Pinelope in February, Awesome Destiny has had two runs but didn’t ignite any sparks and failed to hit the board. However, last Saturday, the dark bay four-year-old filly looked re-energised when holding on by a neck in a quick time of 1:55.3.
“First of all, let me say that it was an excellent performance by Awesome Destiny today (Saturday). I was a little surprised because she fell down a couple of months ago and hasn’t been herself.
“However, with this type of performance it looks like she is getting back to herself and hopefully she can get to the top of her game.
“ Awesome Destiny is a nice racehorse and as she gets older she will continue to improve. She showed the fighting side to her and that is good going forward, so let us see where she goes from here,” Subratie said.
Running from the number one post, Awesome Destiny was hustled up to take the early lead going around the Club House turn, with Jamai Raja (Shane Ellis), Marvellous Marva (Oneil Mullings) and Houdini’s Magic (Wesley Henry) tracking.
Awesome Destiny maintained a steady gallop down the backstretch until leaving the half-mile (800m) when she was challenged by Jamai Raja, Houdini’s Magic and the far-striding Kalamata.
After shaking off the challenge of Jamai Raja in deep stretch, Awesome Destiny then had to withstand a late surge from Kalamata inside the last 25 yards. Houdini’s Magic finished third.
Despite the game performance from the rejuvenated Awesome Destiny the backers and connections of Kalamata must have felt a bit undone.
It appears that her rider was simply unable to decide when to move with the English filly, who, according to her record enjoys going long. In the straight, Patterson was dithering and only got going in the final yards of the race and by then it was too late.
Kalamata is certainly one to watch in the future and when they go to turns, she is going to be very difficult to beat.
She is a most welcome addition to the racing stock at the Park and now we are hearing that other English- bred horses are around just waiting to strut their stuff.
We await with much anticipation to see Kalamata and the others in action.