Shaun Williams notches his second winner in 2019

Trainer Shaun Williams saddled his second winner for the year after Mr Pantheon won an Optional Claiming ($450,000-$400,000) event over six furlongs (1,200m).

Mr Pantheon (Storm Craft – Senorita) with apprentice Reyan Lewis in the saddle was up in the pace with Superbolt (Christopher Mamdeen) and Storm Valley (Kiaman McGregor) going into the turn.

Coming off the bend, Storm Valley assumed the full control of the race but Mr Pantheon refused to go away by producing a telling blow on the outside to come home by 1 ¼ lengths.

Eddie’s Princess (Samantha Fletcher) came from nowhere to snatch second place from Storm Valley at the wire. The final time for the event was 1:14.1.

Sweet Destiny wins Norman Manley Memorial Cup

With the scratch of the morning line favourites Hologram Shadow and Prince Sammo, Sweet Destiny got the opportunity and sprinted home in the $660,000 Norman Manley Memorial Cup going five furlongs (1,000m) on the round course.

Ridden by Kiaman McGregor, Sweet Destiny sat comfortably behind Chrisanli (Daniel Satchell) at the off with Peeping Tom (Ameth Robles) and Sly Stalloon (Dane Dawkins) further back.

Sweet Destiny cruised by Chrisanli approaching the final bend and turned on the pressure in deep stretch to win by 4 ¼ lengths in a time of 1:01.0. Chrisanli held on for the second spot with Peeping Tom getting third place.

‘Winter’ comes in October along with equipment change

After two below-average runs in Overnight Allowance company, Winter Is Coming took a step down in class to contest an Optional Claiming ($1 million – $850,000) and the result was a ¾ length victory.

Going the distance of 6 ½ furlongs (1,300m), the Leroy Tomlinson trainee won ahead of Pleasant Secret (Ameth Robles) and Ricky Ricardo (Roger Hewitt) in a good time of 1:19.0.

Leading rider Christopher Mamdeen, who lost control of one of his legs in the stirrups, held Winter Is Coming (Storm Craft – Heart of Gold) among the backmarkers as Mr Ambassador (Shamaree Muir) and Pleasant Secret dictated the pace ahead of Eye Candy (Samantha Fletcher) and Armageddon (Kiaman McGregor).

Pleasant Secret took over at the halfmile (800m) with Eye Candy going in chase. Turning for home, Pleasant Secret continued to lead with Eye Candy in a striking position but Mamdeen produced his mount and Winter Is Coming got up in time. Tomlinson credited a change in racing equipment for the victory as Winter Is Coming raced with the figure 8 on.

“The change of equipment got the job done for us. Basically, he (Winter Is Coming) is better than this group and so I was confident of victory. The instructions coming into the race were to hold him behind the pace and come at them in the finish,” he said.

Three horses claimed

Only three horses were claimed on the 10-race programme. Steven Todd claimed Storm Valley for owner Andre Smith for $450,000 from Wayne DaCosta and Stanley Findlay claimed Sotomayor for owner Julian Harper for $450,000 from Ryan Darby from the seventh race.

In the eighth race, winner Sweet Destiny was claimed from Johnny Wilmot by Michael Francis for owner Denrick Chambers for $350,000.

Kholbear continues Azan’s two-year-run

Kholbear proved more advanced than the field as was expected and duly waited on the leaders to fold before getting up to win the Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup to release his maiden tag in the Maiden Special Weight event contested by native-bred two-year-olds for a total purse of $900,000.

Well ridden by jockey Robert Halledeen for owner NYA and to show appreciation Halledeen was heartily congratulated by trainer Richard Azan afterwards for what was exemplified as a fine ride in a field that showcased a handy crop of native-bred juveniles – experienced as well as debutants.

The well-timed late run from Kholbear the 8/5 favourite nailed the 9/5 shot Royal Approach in the glass and produced a promising time of 1:28.0 with fractions of 23.3, 47.4, 1:13.1 for 1,400 metres.

Royal Approach looked the winner turning up the lane under Shane Ellis but with a furlong to go Kholbear began to hover menacingly in the drive phase to get home by a neck length for victory while the promising filly Elitist ridden by Javaniel Patterson held for third 1 1/4 lengths adrift.

“He (Kholbear) is a horse that does not like to go in the pace, he likes to come running on from behind as he finishes strong when he is behind the speed. The trainer knows him best and he gave instructions to sit behind the speed and pick it up leaving the half-mile.

“It was a nice win but this horse ran very green, throwing his head in the air but later he showed why he was a winning favourite. Looking at his prospects, as I said before he ran very green and that simply means than he can improve.

“With time, he should improve and be a better horse than he is now. He could even be a Classic horse for he has that built and feels that way,” Halledeen speculated.