In the relentless quest to close the approximately $11.0 million gap on current leader Anthony Nunes champion Wayne DaCosta posted Royal Aviator (Phillip Parchment) in fighting fit condition. In a hard-fought contest Nunes’ filly Kalahari, one of his 15 starters out of the 90 declarations was denied victory by a neck in the opener to commence a frustrating winless holiday for the title-chasing second-generation trainer.

In a middle distance battle of imported USA fillies, improving apprentice Kiaman McGregor brought Patrick Lynch’s New York-bred She’s Irie along the far rails from off the pace to outstay rival She’s An Introvert by two lengths in the second event.

McGregor enjoyed a second 10 per cent commission in the eighth race when Johnny Wilmot’s Sweet Destiny outsprinted four rivals for a four-and-a half-length victory in the Norman Manley Memorial.

Apprentice Samantha Fletcher demonstrated improved ability as she kept Philip Feanny’s Sebastian held together to the top of the stretch. Nicely balanced in negotiating the home turn from third position, Sebastian split rivals neatly in the upper stretch and with the expert deployment of the whip and reins outlasted the opposition to win the third by a length-and-a-half.

Casual Peach (Prince Holder) was comfortably the best in the fourth to give Michael Marlowe his 10th trip to the winner’s enclosure this season. For Holder it was another winner on the path of regaining at least a bit of his former winning days in the saddle.

Half-an-hour later, with five entries including 2019 Triple Crown hero Supreme Soul in the seven-runner 1500-metre Fontainbleu Trophy, it was more disappointment for Nunes when Superluminal (Omar Walker) conditioned by Ian Parsard was too game to be denied.

in the 13-horse field of maiden juveniles who contested the sixth event Richard Azan’s Kholbear (Robert Halledeen) wore down his two main rivals to score by a neck while Reyan Lewis’ had his success on Shaun Williams’ Mr Pantheon in the seventh and leading reinsman Christopher Mamdeen’s lone win was on the Leroy Tomlinson conditioned former Wayne DaCosta inmate Winter Is Coming in the ninth.

A confirmed short runner over shorter distances, trainer Steven Todd realised the recently claimed Rohan’s Cattleya showed a touch of stamina when previous owners raced the five-year-old mare without blinkers. In front early as usual and under well-rated handling, Jemar Jackson kept her going to score by just over one length in 1,200-metre nightcap.

THE AWARDS

The Heroes Day Training Feat Award is presented to Patrick Lynch for the performance of She’s Irie, whose previous victory was in a maiden event but triumphed over non-winners of three company. The filly also gets the Best Winning Gallop accolade. Samantha Fletcher deserves her first Jockeyship Award for a best riding performance in guiding Sebastian to victory in the colt’s first attempt over 1,820 metres.