“The journey won’t be a problem for us as he ( Marquesas ) is bred to get a distance of ground, and we are going into the race with the intention of winning. We want to win the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes. We actually don’t know how good he is as yet but with this horse, the sky is the limit. Marquesas might be a blessing in the sky for us.”

Those were the exact words from trainer Michael Marlowe after his charge won the Dye Job Sprint over six furlongs (1,200m) on December 9 heading into the premier juvenile race on the local racing calendar, the Supreme Ventures Limited-sponsored Jamaica Two-Year-Olds Stakes.

Well, yesterday, as the actual race unfolded at Caymanas Park, it was a case of so said, so done, as Marquesas, ridden by Shane Ellis, came with a strong run on the outside in deep stretch to beat rivals going away by three lengths in the one-mile (1,600m) event.

Brandy, under Orlando Foster who replaced a sick Dane Nelson and who was second to Marquesas in the Dye Job Sprint, again followed the winner to the line, a length and a quarter in front of My Beirut (Anthony Thomas up) and Commander Two with Javaniel Patterson astride.

Patriarch (Dick Cardenas up), who was chasing history to become the second horse to win all three races in the Triple Crown series, finished a disappointing fifth in the eight-horse field.

“When I saw Commander Two locking heads with Patriarch on the lead, which was best for us, I knew that my horse was going to come for them up the straight. Marquesas is a very nice horse and I will be sticking with him throughout next year’s three-year-old Classic season,” Ellis said.

Commander Two flew out of the starting gates and opened up a good lead over the chasing Patriarch, Hot Ice and Fayrouz in the early exchanges.

As soon as the field went by the six-furlong (1,200m) point and headed towards the half mile (800m), Patriarch challenged Commander Two for the lead and both went at it coming into the lane.

With neither Commander Two nor Patriarch quickening at the top of the lane, this paved the way for the run on horses, and it was the far-striding Marquesas who burst through the pack, getting by rivals to register his third consecutive win for the season.

It was a splendid Boxing Day for Ellis as Marquesas was one of four winners for him on the 11-race programme. Ellis won aboard Drone Strike for trainer Patrick “Wacky” Lynch in the sixth, Big Black Nation for trainer Anthony Subratie in the ninth, and Red Dread, who was a chance ride at the expense of Nelson, to close out a five-timer for Lynch.

In addition to Drone Strike and Red Dread, Lynch also saddled Dinner By Seven (Anthony Thomas astride) in the first race, Dwayne Star (Oneil Scott up) in the fifth race and Peyton’s Delight under Aaron Chatrie in the eighth.

Meanwhile, Bigdaddykool, in a bold front-running effort, was able to hold off Houdini’s Magic and a steward’s inquiry to land the 55th running of the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup over 12 furlongs (2,400m). Bigdaddykool, who was winning this race for the second-straight year, posted a time of 2:31.1 minutes. Trainer Nunes had earlier scored with Hologram Shadow and Dontae to post three winners.

The last race day of the 2017 season is set for Saturday.