THE 1820-metre Mr Lover Lover Trophy, divided into two sections, produced vastly contrasting outcomes.

Division I, the eighth on the 10-race programme, morphed into a competitive affair with a strong early pace guaranteeing that stamina would matter even more. Santorini (Dick Cardenas) and Sir John, both 2000 Guineas back markers, and 1000 Guineas failure Sweet Majesty made the frame.

Winner at odds of 7/2 Daddy Jones (Bebeto Harvey), highly thought of by breeder Clovis Metcalfe and trainer Richard Azan, stayed on strongly on the far rails late to beat Santorini by just over a length. Sweet Majesty at 19/1 held every chance 100 metres out and proved to be the surprise by finishing three parts of a length away in third while Sir John (Anthony Thomas) was only fourth.

The contrast in the result of Division II was stark. The Ian Parsard-trained 6/5 favourite Big Jule (Omar Walker) led over 800 metres out and increased the advantage to 18 ½ lengths over nearest rival.

Given the added cushion of the recent upgrade of the racing surface, the time of 1:57.4 compared with the 2:02.3 posted in Division I half an hour earlier — in identical conditions — suggests Big Jule will be competitive when he takes on more accomplished rivals in the Jamaica Derby and St Leger.

Parsard had a second win on the card. The top-class sprinter Mahogany (Dane Dawkins), making a belated seasonal appearance, was not off the bridle for long. Sprinting into the early lead in the 1200-metre seventh event, the four-year-old giant chestnut gelding won by nearly five lengths hard held. The time of 1:13.3 for this canter could have been much lower if Dawkins had asked for any additional effort.

Out for her third career start in the 1300-metre opening event, progressive four-year-old filly Make Up Artist confirmed victory was a mere formality for this still undefeated progeny of Adore The Gold. Schooled by Jason DaCosta and ridden by Anthony Thomas, Make Up Artist returned a time 1:20.3 for a 12-length runaway which, given the aforementioned current status of the racing surface,may be bad news for her next immediate rivals.

San Siro (Reyan Lewis) gave trainer Lawrence Freemantle his 10th success of the season as the five-year-old grey gelding scored by the least possible margin of a nose in the 1400-metre second event.

Winner of the 1000-metre-straight third event, Commissioner — Dane Nelson’s first of two wins — turned the tables on favourite Adoration who had a poor start and failed by three parts of a length to recover. In their previous encounter it was Commissioner who was knocked off balance and lost ground at the start, thus failing by a neck to get on terms late.

Awesome Aviator (Aaron Chatrie) came home 3 ½ lengths clear in the 1200-metre fourth event for second-generation trainer Gresford Smith’s second success this year while Top Eagle (Youville Pinnock) led without looking likely to be overtaken in the 1300-metre sixth event for Johnny Wilmot barn’s first of the day and 14th success of the season.

Trainer Gary Subratie’s promising filly Enrapture duly released her maiden tag in the 1500-metre sixth to close a double for Dawkins, and in the 1400-metre 10th Dane Nelson had his second aboard Purple Wayne in tandem with Wilmot for this veteran conditioner to earn his 15th winner for the year.

The following is now a routine exercise for this column.

As it stands, the overly frequent wins by second-generation trainers indicates no sign of slowing. With Parsard posting a double and a win each for DaCosta, Smith and Subratie, the count for these special horsemen moves to 173 successes out of the 372 races promoted in 2021. Incidentally, in 2019 and 2020 there were five such trainers in the top 10, now there are seven.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Richard Azan for the return to form of Daddy Jones who, after much promise, lost his last two races by 47 ½ lengths and missed the 2000 Guineas. The Best Winning Gallop was delivered by Big Jule in a convincing performance to put him in the conversation as one of the latest worthy Classic contenders. Bebeto Harvey’s performance, which included judgement of pace, use of whip, balance and athletic ability aboard Daddy Jones, gets him the day’s Jockeyship Award.