Four-year-old chestnut filly Hilly’s Halo, trained by Gary Subratie, under a confident and sustained ride from champion jockey Anthony Thomas, outbattled 4-5 odds on favourite Patriarch to win the $1-million Easter Sprint Cup feature run over 5 ½ furlongs, at Caymanas Park yesterday.

As soon as the starting gates were opened, El Profesor (Reyan Lewis) shot to the lead, but was quickly surrounded by My Sister (Aaron Chatrie, also from the Subratie Stables, approaching the 5-furlong (1,000m) marker, with Hilly’s Halo running in third position.

Patriarch (Robert Halledeen), as was to be expected, pushed to the front at the half-mile (800m) ahead of My Sister, as the champion jockey continued to hold Hilly’s Halo off the pace until approaching the final bend when he sent on the imported filly to challenge for the lead.

Turning for home on the outside of Patriarch, Hilly’s Halo, who was in a sustained battle with Patriarch during the entire stretch for the ascendency, edged away in the end to win by 3/4 lengths. My Sister held well for third place with Zephyr (Tevin Foster) fourth.

After fast splits of 22.4 and 45.1, the final time for the distance at hand was a decent 1:06.1.

“I am a happy man. Hilly’s Halo’s has had her issues, at times all at once, making it difficult to give her the proper preparation, but we have worked hard on her at the stables, and what you saw today (April 22) is an indication of her true worth. That is why the entire camp is so happy right now,” trainer Subratie told The Observer’s Supreme Racing Guide.

He continued: “ Hilly’s Halo hopefully will stay fit; and if she does so, under the guidance of those at the stables and myself, she is going to win more good races and realise her true potential.”

It was the third win on the day for Thomas as he earlier won aboard Earn Your Stripes for trainer Anthony Nunes in the fifth race over 7 1/2 furlongs (1,500m) and Luana in the seventh race for trainer Errol Waugh over one mile (1,600m).

Also winning three races was the combination of trainer Patrick Lynch and apprentice Reyan Lewis.

They were successful with three-year-old chestnut gelding Glitter River, who won the fourth over 6 1/2 furlongs (1,300m) by 7 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:21.1; Perfect Asset, who romped home by 1 1/4 length in the sixth race over 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:10.3; and three-year-old chestnut filly Formal Fashion in the ninth race over 6 1/2 furlongs. Formal Fashion won by 3 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:21.2.

“The feeling of winning three races is very good. It was great; it is a wonderful feeling and I am just a happy man. The aim now is to win more races, I want to win more and more races,” Lynch said after the win by Formal Fashion.

For Lewis it was a satisfying day and a reward for his hard work.

“Well, it is always a good thing to ride three winners. It is not easy, so I have to really thank trainer Lynch and his owners for believing in me, as without them this triple would not be possible. I know all things are possible if I continue to work hard in the mornings and that I am prepared to do,” the young rider stated in his post-race interview.

Racing continues on Saturday.