ONEIL BECKFORD CONTINUES TO IMPROVE

Oneil Beckford, one of 17 in the latest batch of apprentice riders, is making up lost ground.

Beckford has been riding well of late and has so far ridden nine winners from 148 mounts this season. He is looking better in the saddle and timing his races much better. Beckford was able to ride a double on Saturday. His winners were Samora in the fourth and Fiery Path in the seventh.

SHAMAREE MUIR, DANE NELSON RETURN

After a second riding stint in Canada, jockey Shamaree Muir has returned to resume riding duties at Caymanas Park. Muir first rode at the Northlands Park racetrack in Edmonton where he finished fifth in the jockeys’ championship, adding 36 winners to the 40 winners he rode last year.

After the season at Northlands ended in September, Muir went on to the Century Downs racetrack in Rocky View County, Alberta, where he rode four winners, making a career total of 80 wins in the two years he has been riding in Canada.

“Well, it was another good season for me riding in Canada. It is always good to ride at different racetracks among different jockeys; that way you can only develop your riding skills, and I believe that I am a better rider at the moment.

“I have won so many Stakes races up there that I have been noticed, which is very good. Once you can win those races, more racing personalities will see you and you will get more opportunities. Don’t forget, I won the Northlands Canadian Derby last year,” Muir said.

Muir has secured three rides on tomorrow’s nine-race programme, and is eager to get back in the saddle in front of his home crowd.

“It feels really good to be back at Caymanas Park and I hope that I can bring home what I have attained abroad. I am looking forward to ride [here again],” Muir said.

Former champion Dane Nelson arrived from Canada last weekend and has two rides on tomorrow’s programme. .

TEN HORSES CLAIMED ON SATURDAY

Ten horses were claimed on the 11-race programme at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

In the fifth race on a $180,000 claiming tag, Bullet Raj was claimed from Lawrence Freemantle by Clifford Atkinson Jr for himself, while Argument Done was taken from Delroy Wisdom by Steven Todd for Patrick Hall.

Stedman Curtis claimed Stir It Up from Oneil Markland for Garth Samuels; Michael McIntosh claimed Cheers from Colin Ferguson for himself, and Robert Darby Snr claimed Ballon d’Or from Gary Subratie for himself from the sixth race.

All claims were done for $450,000. Fiery Path was taken from Donovan Plummer by Steven Todd for Richard Todd; Robert Darby Snr lost Clearly Ours to Clifton McLish acting as both trainer and owner; Bars Of Gold was claimed by Edward Walker for himself from Dennis Lee; Shade Of Beauty was claimed from Clifford Atkinson Jr by Patrick Fong for Derrick Gayle, and Heat It Up was claimed from Marlon Anderson by Dwight Chen for Deleta Brewster from the seventh race. All claims were made for $250,000.

THEY HAVE PASSED ON

Along with the racing fraternity, the Supreme Racing Guide mourns the passing of trainer Denrick Chambers, owner; the charismatic Jelf Gray, father of young apprenctice Amoy Gray, and longtime groom Lesford ‘Ambug’ Johnson. May they all rest in peace.

ONE LUCKY PUNTER WINS LUCRATIVE PICK 9

Even with Fiery Path winning at odds of 41-1, one lucky punter was able to catch the Pick 9, receiving a payout of $2,286,342.50 last Saturday.

Fiery Path, trained by Donovan Plummer, was the only long shot on the 11-race card. The Pick 9 started in the third race, which saw 1-1 favourite Greek Goddess obliging.

Samora at 2-1, Argument Done at 3-5 and Supertronics at 2-1 continued this trend until Fiery Path created the upset in the seventh race.

The four remaining races were run according to the form book, with Big Al obliging at 3-5, Bad Gal Hillary at 5-2, Runallday at 2-1, and Bilingual at 7-5.

LADY JAELA TAKES MIRACLE CURE SPRINT

It is not often that we see a horse breaking the maiden tag and winning the first time in the class above.

This was the case with the Dwight Chen-trained Lady Jaela on Saturday when the chestnut filly won the Miracle Cure Sprint. Lady Jaela (Taqarub – Our Miss Ruth), with Arthur Budhu atop, stepped boldly in front in the non-winners of two event going five-and-a-half furlongs (1,100m) and made every post a winning one.

After contending with Cheerleader for the first part of the race, Lady Jaela began to pull away from the field approaching the home turn before powering away to score by nine lengths.

Aurelia’s Summer was second and Flowers Thirty third in a time of 1:06.2.

“I know this horse very well, and all I had to do was just ride a patient race. She has speed, and so we used that to our advantage. We went to the lead as planned and she just kept on going away from the field. She is a nice horse and she is improving well. Her performance was good,” Budhu said.