ON a track faster than that offered on the last three race days, plus a fine sunny afternoon with a southerly wind speed of around 30 kilometres per hour on the backstretch, Universal Boss was given the opportunity to demonstrate his worth, although entered frequently, showed that he is not a specialist sprinter and easily obliged.

Gliding to the lead 800 metres out, Universal Boss stayed on strongly to score by eight lengths, stopping the clock smartly at 1:32.3 for the 1,500 metres gallop.

In the second and third, respectively, Pure Heart, disqualified from first last November, regained his form with a front-running 11-length romp to commence a good day for leading rider Christopher Mamdeen, while in contrast Omar Walker had to work hard to get Cruising Motion to overtake speedy Parajet 100 metres out.

Race four generated the most excitement as none of the at least half a dozen speedsters vying to outsprint each other had enough left to defy the late burst of Mamdeen aboard Reigning King to lead in the final strides.

Jacko Links, slowly into stride in five of his last 10 starts, made no mistake and wore down favourite Sotomayor, who led in the upper stretch, to take the fifth.

Starting with top weight and securing race six by just under two lengths, Chief Prospect, under typical Shane Ellis well-balanced and smooth jockeyship, survived an objection with Mamdeen’s claim of having his ground taken turned down by the stewards.

Truth be told, Chief Prospect did shift right by apparent deliberate tactic into the intended outside path of Batidor Di Mundo, but Mamdeen’s decision to alter course may have been deemed early and although changing the whip to his left hand, Ellis did not use it at all; this in all probability worked decisively in his favour.

The seventh was set up perfectly for the finishing speed of the improving Mamdeen-ridden God of Love as the four specialist sprinters spread across the track, 200 metres out, had worn out each other.

In the eighth, odds-on favourite Latapy broke well on top but lost momentum when put on the bridle instantly. Fresh Cash was able to sneak through on the inner rails, 100 metres out and went on to claim the $475,000 winner’s share of the purse by nearly four lengths.

Drawn at post position 10, Miss Judy was able to work her way to the inner rails at the end of 400 metres and remained there. The pace to the top of the stretch was fairly strong with Council of Trent outstaying the wide-running Luana 200 metres out. Try as he might Council of Trent simply found the charging late run of Miss Judy on the far rails irresistible. The mare provided trainer Paul Charlton with his third trip to winners’ enclosure this year.

Thought to be a certainty for Mamdeen’s second four-timer this season, the apparently well handicapped Legality was slow away from the gates and never looked likely to justify his status as one of the shortest priced favourite ever at this level.

Zephyr led at the end of 1000 metres and ran particularly well in the home straight to last home by a half a length from Lottery Ticket’s late sprint in the tenth and feature Ahwhofah Trophy in the nightcap.

THE AWARDS

The Training Feat Award goes to Paul “Sleeper” Charlton for a change of equipment (removal of tongue tie) on Miss Judy who was 20 lengths fifth to Burlin in her last appearance on April 20, 1919.

Shane Ellis takes the Jockeyship Award for his tactical expertise on Chief Prospect and the Best Winning Gallop Award to God of Love who was thoroughly outpaced early in the 1,100-metre sprint but who had the class to triumph by two-and-a-half lengths.