The directors of the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers’ Association were well represented and feted by the promoting company as the renewal of their special traditional trophy was featured on the nine-race programme which is the unprecedented first of three-consecutive race days of this Easter carnival.

Throughout the afternoon the statistics returned by champions’ owners over the six decades of the Caymanas operation were presented and well received, with eyebrows raised at the seemingly miniscule purses of the past. For statistics such as these, for which it is nigh impossible to calculate the rate of inflation over 60 years, it is best to use a percentage of total available purse earned each season.

Eight starters reported for the feature, including 2019 Triple Crown champion Supreme Soul (Kiaman McGregor) to contest the gallop over the 1820-metre course of the programmed eighth event. The huge six-year-old immortal was engaged in a dispute for the headline with pacemaker Roy Rogers (Nicholas Hibbert) down the backstretch, leaving McGregor, first time aboard, not appearing to be able to solve the challenge presented by the difficulty to rate the Anthony Nunes-conditioned horse.

Twelve-year-old Hover Craft (7-5), with 22 wins from 143 starts, overpowered Supreme Soul with yet another customary successful late challenge, thus adding to earlier successes for trainer Jason DaCosta and champion reinsman Anthony Thomas.

The opening event over 1820 metres was won by 6/1 shot Prince Sanjay (Romario Spencer), with Steven Todd saddling second placed Sir Tajay as well for the first of two wins on the day. In fact, Todd only had to wait an hour and a half for his double to be confirmed, with Anthony Thomas securing the first of a three-timer astride Buckaluck (3-2) in the afternoon’s fourth run on 800 metres of the straight course.

Colin Ferguson’s Zabratone (3-2) duly obliged in the 1400-metre second, with Raddesh Roman ensuring there was no idling on the part of the six-year-old gelding.

Dick Cardenas, returning from injury, rode speedy Sir Kel to defend early advantage, scoring by two and a half lengths over the 1000 metres straight of race three. With Sir Kel scoring, trainer Oneil Markland has now won six races form 18 declarations this season.

Ricky Ricardo (1-2) saddled by Dennis Thwaites, the shortest priced starter on the entire card, delivered the 1400-metre fifth event to leading owner Carlton Watson for Thomas’s second of his aforementioned triple.

At odds of 6/5, Patrick Lynch’s consistent grey colt Prosecco won the 1300-metre sixth, with the good form of leading rider Dane Dawkins extending to 27, his number of winning mounts this year.

Race seven over 1,100 metres went to Baton Rouge (5-1), running from post position 14 with Reyan Lewis at the reins for the first of the DaCosta double.

Starting for only the second time, Queen Zan, schooled by Junior Small for his first success of the season, confirmed the promise she displayed in finishing in a photograph for first on debut. Ridden by apprentice Roger Hewitt, in sprinting the 800 metres of the nightcap, the light-framed four-year-old chestnut galloped gamely to beat 13 other maidens in returning a starting price of 2/1.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Small for his patience in allowing Queen Zan to be fully developed, thus justifying her belated first appearance on March 12 and following up with a winning run nearly five weeks later today. The Best Winning Gallop came in the feature from Hover Craft conceding six years and three kilogrammes to Supreme Soul. The Jockeyship Award goes to Anthony Thomas for his athletic ability, balance, and judgement of pace in guiding the aging battler to victory.