EIGHT HORSES CLAIMED ON MONDAY

Eight horses will change stables when next at the races after being claimed on the Heroes’ Day 10-race programme at Caymanas Park on Monday.

Sir Leyland Hall, who won the fourth event, was claimed from the barn of Norman Smith by Dale Murphy for owner Jason Duncan; runner-up Ocean Seeker was taken from Anthony Nunes by Clifford Atkinson Jr for himself; while Johnny Wilmot claimed Princess Brianna for Carlton Watson from the barn of Steven Todd. All horses were tagged for $250,000.

From the fifth event, the winner Cheers was claimed from Robert Darby Sr by Colin Ferguson for Delroy Senior; Errol A Subratie claimed Raising The Bar from Dwight Chen for Rajesh Nagrani; while Vision of Gold was taken from Wayne DaCosta by Steadman Curtis for Garth Samuels. All claims were made for $350,000.

Royal Girl, winner of the seventh event was claimed from Wilfred Chin by Uton Stewart for himself, with Errol Pottinger claiming Speedy Process from Paul Smith for Zel Muna, both on an $180,000 tag.

O’BRIEN DOMINATES DEWHURST, ONE SHY OF GROUP ON RECORD

NEWMARKET, United Kingdom (AFP) — Aidan O’Brien dominated Saturday’s Dewhurst Stakes, the master Irish trainer saddling the first four home to move one shy of Bobby Frankel’s record of 25 Group One wins in a year.

Even by his own high standards, 2017 has been a year to remember for the unassuming 47-year-old and US Navy Flag became the latest top-notch winner to roll off his Ballydoyle production line in Newmarket’s feature two-year-old contest.

As Expert Eye, the odds-on favourite trained by Michael Stoute, floundered to finish last of the nine runners, US Navy Flag led from the front under Ryan Moore.

The 5-1 winner’s stablemates Mendelssohn (50-1), Seahenge (ridden by O’Brien’s son, Donnacha) and Threeandfourpence took second, third and fourth.

With this 24th Group One success of 2017, O’Brien now needs only one more to draw level with Frankel, a remarkable accomplishment that he may well achieve at British Champions Day at Ascot next Saturday.

O’Brien’s previous best Group One tally was 23 in 2001 and 2008.

The magic 25 mark was set by Frankel, the late Californian trainer, in 2003.

DANE NELSON RETURNS IN NOVEMBER

Jockey Dane Nelson who is currently riding in Canada is set to return to Jamaica in the early part of November, thereby opening up the possibility of securing a mount in the Superstakes.

At present Nelson occupies position number eight in the jockeys’ championship with 22 winners.