In-form apprentice Raddesh Roman had an easy ride aboard Mr Universe in the $1.15 million top-rated Open Allowance call as the speedy five-yearold son of Region of Merit galloped to an easy 2 ¾ – length victory in the five-anda- half furlong (1,100m) event at Caymanas Park yesterday.

The win was one of the most emphatic of Mr Universe’s 24-race career, to mark an effortless return to the winners’ enclosure — the first time this season from four starts and three-consecutive second-place finishes.

Trained by Wayne DaCosta, Mr Universe got the better of stable companion Lady Blue (Omar Walker) with Chace The Great (Kiaman McGregor) third.

Mr Universe and Lady Blue are both owned by Carlton Watson, who widened his lead in the owners’ championship with the one-two finish. Zephyr (Reyan Lewis) finished in third place but was disqualified and placed fifth behind My Sister, after it was termed by the race day stewards as intimidation and interference by the former.

The winning time was a fast 1:04.4. Mr Universe didn’t get his usual quick break but he recovered well and took command of the race heading into the first turn ahead of Lady Blue and Zephyr.

Coming into the lane, Lady Blue stuck to the task but when Roman changed his hold, Mr Universe powered home to win.

“I rode the horse off the trainer’s instructions and we got the victory and so I give thanks. I have been working this horse in the mornings and I had complete confidence in him to win this race,” Roman said.

The feature race on the day — The Steward’s Cup — a maiden condition race for native-bred two-year-olds over five furlongs (1000m) round — was won in a gate-to-wire effort by first-timer Rum With Me.

The bay colt, trained by Gary Subratie and ridden by Dane Dawkins, was 2 ½ lengths in front of Glock and Mahogany in a time of 1:00.3. Trainer Spencer Chung and jockeys Dane Nelson and Anthony Thomas posted two winners each on the nine-race programme.

Chung saddled Truly Amazing (Aaron Chatrie) in the second race and Extruder (Omar Walker) in the sixth. Nelson won aboard Azria in the first for trainer Gary Griffiths and Yetagain in the eighth race for trainer Anthony Nunes.

Thomas was successful aboard Big Black Nation for trainer Welsh Soutar in the fifth race and Court Call in the ninth race for trainer Michael Francis. Racing continues next Saturday.