Apprentice Mathew Bennett grasps chance ride opportunity

Apprentice Mathew Bennett achieved his second winner for the season after getting a chance ride aboard Sacrifice. The combination won a Restricted Allowance event going seven furlongs (1,400m). Bennett replaced fellow apprentice Daniel Satchell in the saddle.

Bennett got Sacrifice into a good position on the side rails down the backstretch behind leader Alexa’s Star (Christopher Mamdeen) and Dreamingofanna (Prince Holder) for company.

Cutting the turn while scraping paint off the inside rails, Sacrifice surged to the lead and although Alexa’s Star and Dreamingofanna refused to give up, he held on by ¾ length in the end. Alexa’s Star was second and Dreamingofanna third. The final time run by Sacrifice was 1:29.4.

Heart of Rome releases maiden tag

After 36 attempts, five-year-old bay mare Heart of Rome finally found the winning post in front after running rivals off their legs in a four-furlong (800m) event for native-bred five-year-olds and upwards who are maidens.

Regular rider Osive Donegal put the Cashbert Khwalsingh trainee in front at the off and made every post a winning one. At one point in the race, Heart of Rome looked as if she would canter home but Ratio (Shane Ellis) came with a strong late run and just failed to win by a neck.

Heart of Rome’s stable companion Ringo Starr (Samantha Fletcher) finished third. The final time was 50.1.

Six horses claimed

Six horses were claimed on the 11-race programme.

Uncle Wal was claimed from Johnny Wilmot by Michael Hall for owner Julian Harper for $550,000 from the first race.

In the sixth race, Paul Smith claimed Kunama for owner Proper Fix Syndicate from Paul Charlton; Raymond Townsend claimed Fiery Path for himself from Junior Panton and Joseph Thomas claimed Mr Lyndhurst for owner Geraint Parchment from Ryan Darby. All these horses were claimed for $250,000.

From the seventh race trainer Edward Walker claimed Musketoon for owner Garfield Hemley and Paul Charlton cliamed Phineas from Randolph Scott for owner Michael Wray.

Old-timer Phineas wins again

Even at age 10, Phineas continues to show that he has a lot left in his tank as he romped home to his second consecutive win, this time in an Optional Claiming ($350,000-$300,000) event.

The former Invitational Mile winner won by nine lengths in the 7 ½-furlongs (1,500m) contest.

With Reyan Lewis in the saddle, Phineas, after a slow start, slipped down into third position at the six-furlong (1,200m) point behind General Report (Raddesh Roman) and DM Cutie (Natalie Berger).

The far-striding Phineas took over at the half-mile and from there on it was a matter of by how far he would win by. General Report held on for second place with Musketoon (Kiaman McGregor) finishing third. The final time was recorded at 1:36.0.

Milkman makes a winning return with change of equipment

Having not raced since March 16 of this year, Milkman looked a cut above rivals and having shown no signs of any previous ailments powered to victory in a maiden condition race for native-bred three-year-old colts and geldings run over five furlongs (1,000m) round.

Ridden by Robert Halledeen, the Richard Azan trainee slammed rivals by 2 ½ lengths in a one-sided affair in a time of 1:01.2 with splits of 23.3 x 47.2.

Milkman’s win was enhanced by a change in racing equipment as the tongue tie was off and first-time Lasix was administered. Halledeen got Milkman out of the starting gates running and assumed the early lead over Belligerent King (Anthony Allen) and Top Gear (Christopher Mamdeen).

Milkman gave up the lead to Belligerent King for a brief moment navigating the half-mile (800m) turn but regained control approaching the final bend. Milkman turned for home with a good enough lead and held his position to the wire as Butseeyah (Shane Ellis) made a late run for second place ahead of Top Gear in third.

Ruja Lahoe off the mark

Jockey Ruja Lahoe notched his first win for the season when he brought five-year-old dark bay gelding Night Light with a telling run in deep stretch to win an Optional Claiming ($550,000- $500,000) event run over 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m).

Night Light (Tracking — Orphan Song) was unable to go with the early pace and was held among the backmarkers as Twilight Dreams (Reyan Lewis), Five Star (Daniel Thompson) and Uncle Wal (Paul Francis) vied for the early lead.

As the field began to sort themselves out, Five Star took up the running approaching the distance and began to pull off from the field entering the lane.

In deep stretch, Five Star looked all over the winner but Lahoe produced his mount on the outside and Night Light got up in time for the victory, winning by a neck. Twilight Dreams, also produced a late rally to dead heat with Five Star for second place. The winning time for the event was 1:07.2. Night Light is trained by Kingsley Davis.