A winner for Cashbert

Changes in racing equipment continue to pay off for trainers, who continue to apply these changes oftentimes reaping success.

On Saturday, there were three instances where trainers made an equipment change and their horses came out winners.

The first occurred in the second race with the Cashbert Khwalsingh-trained Danceallnight. Racing with the blinkers on, Dancehallnight (Linton Steadman) got the job done over 6 ½ furlongs (1,300m) in a maiden conditioned race. Danceallnight won by 1 ½ length over My Son Bates (second) and Lambana (third) in a time of 1:24.1.

Jon Marshall, trained by Andrew McDonald continued the trend when he won the fifth race – a $250,000-$200,000 claiming event over 5 furlongs (1,000m) on the round course. With the figure 8 added and ridden by Kiaman McGregor, Jon Marshall beat Tough Cookie and Royal Girl by 2 lengths in a time of 1:02.3.

The third instance came in the eighth race when Aurelia’s Summer racing with the hood on scored an upset 10-1 victory in a Restricted Allowance event over 5 furlongs round. Owned and trained by Lawrence Freemantle, Aurelia’s Summer (Reyan Lewis) powered away from rivals in deep stretch to win by 3 ¾ lengths over Twilight Eruption and Lady Exotic in a time of 1:01.4.

What made all three victories significant was that fact that all three trainers – Khwalsingh, McDonald and Freemantle – were winning their first race for the season.

Hot Ice goes one better

After finishing second by 9 ¾ lengths behind District Attorney over 7 furlongs (1,400m) on last, Hot Ice followed up with a runaway win going nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) in a non-winners of two event for four-year-olds and up.

Trained by Anthony Nunes and ridden by Robert Halledeen, Hot Ice, as usual, was up with the pace in the early exchanges before going through to take up the lead at the 5 furlong (1,000m) marker.

Cruising coming into the lane, Halledeen wasted no time and just kept rolling over Hot Ice to the winning post.

Free Marie (Trevor Simpson) who tried to lay a challenge in deep stretch, was 3 ½ lengths adrift in second place, some 5 ¼ lengths in front of third place finisher My Mom Juss. The final time for the event was 1:59.3.

Jamaican Citizen rebounds

Failing to land a hat-trick of wins on last when finishing in sixth position by 11 ¼ lengths on a $450,000-$400,000 claiming tag over 6 ½ furlongs (1,300m), Jamaican Citizen rebounded, this time on a $350,000-$300,000 claiming tag over the same distance on Saturday.

Owned and trained by Joseph Thomas and ridden by apprentice Daniel Satchell, Jamaican Citizen walked out of the starting gates but was not rushed by the young apprentice as Foot Soldier (Tevin Foster) led the field ahead of Cue Three (Trevor Simpson), Double Deal (Omar Walker) and Unbreakable (Javaniel Patterson) running around the half-mile (800m) turn.

Turning for home, with several horses across the racetrack in with chances of winning, Jamaican Citizen, who was gaining with every stride, burst through between horses in the furlong (200m) and went on to win by 1 ¼ length. Major Force (Kiaman McGregor) was second and Top Eagle (Reyan Lewis) third. The winning time was 1:21.4.

Moviestar finally a winner

After 34 starts, five-year-old bay horse Moviestar ( Storm Craft – Empress Methabell) was able to release the maiden tag on Saturday.

Ridden by apprentice Christopher Mamdeen, Moviestar was unable to go with the early pace and settled among the backmarkers in the 5 ½ furlong (1,100m) event.

Boomerang (Roshane Johnson) led ahead of Emperor’s Treasure (Jordan Barrett), Mistrial (Shane Ellis) and Struck By Grace (Romario Smith) approaching the half-mile (800m). Emperor’s Treasure took over at the three and a half furlong point and quickly began to open up on the field turning for home.

In deep stretch, Emperor’s Treasure failed to go on and the thundering pack behind started to close the gap. Moviestar then came with a strong run on the inside rails to win by three parts of a length over Struck By Grace and Sweetie Girl (Tevin Foster). The final time was 1:11.3.

Five horses claimed on Saturday

Five horses were claimed on the 10-race programme at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

In the fourth race, winner Jamaican Citizen was claimed from Joseph Thomas by Fernando Geddes for himself; Top Eagle was claimed from Anthony Nunes by Anthony Dixon for himself; Unbreakable was taken from Patrick Taylor by Borris McIntosh for owner Raphael Gordon and Foot Soldier was claimed from Ian Roberts by Alford Brown for owner Barsher. All claims were made at $350,000.

Rudolph Hardial claimed Tough Cookie from the fifth race for $250,000 for himself from Ryan Darby.