With a run of exquisite command and mastery against a talented field of the 16 best horses in training, the Philip Feanny-conditioned Excessive Force won the ultra-rich inaugural staging of the Mouttet Mile (invitational) at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

The fact that the Mouttet Mile carried a total purse of US$125,000 ($18.7 million) made this the largest purse for a single event offered in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The showdown racing fans anticipated between Atomica, the Jamaica Cup winner, and Mahogany, the Gold Cup winner, failed to materialise as the Port Royal winner Excessive Force — in an electrifying run in deep stretch that brought the large crowd in attendance to its feet — won the three-year-old and upward Graded Stakes event in fine style by a length and a quarter.

Excessive Force gave a sight that looked very much like greatness and cemented himself as one of the season’s stars after snaring the contest in a time of 1:41.0.

Trainer Philip Feanny said that he was very pleased with the effort of his charge and that the race worked out as he had planned.

“Of course, it was an incredible feeling, but I’m sorry I never had a chance to win the Diamond Mile when it was around. I think he ran a fantastic race. I mean, he carried the weight and beat them,” Feanny told the Jamaica Observer.

Excessive Force, a five-year-old chestnut horse, was held off the pace by jockey Bebeto Harvey as the country’s two leading runners — Mahogany (Reyan Lewis) and Atomica (Dane Dawkins), battled for supremacy down the backstretch.

Excessive Force waited patiently and only began to run after the leaders approached the half-mile mark, but he was still off the pace when Mahogany upped the tempo ahead Runaway Algo (Christopher Mamdeen), while Atomica faded through the field.

Mahogany turned for home with a healthy lead and looked very much likely the winner passing the furlong (2,000m) pole, but Harvey produced his mount for an effort and Excessive Force exploded like a cannon ball well lit and blew away rivals in the end.

Duke (Allen Maragh) also came from far behind to get second place, while Jordon Reign’s (Tevin Foster) got up for third place at the wire.

For jockey Harvey, he was over the moon with the victory.

“Words can’t really explain the feeling I am feeling right now. I am happy; the feeling is amazing to win the first running of the Mouttet Mile, the biggest race of my career,” he said.

It was the second winner of the day for Harvey, as he had earlier opened the card aboard Colorado Ranger for trainer Lincoln Lungs.

Meanwhile, current leading trainer Jason DaCosta pretty much sealed the deal in the race for the trainer’s crown after saddling the first two finishers in the secondary feature event, the inaugural staging of the US$25,000 ($3.7-million) Chairman’s Plate over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m).

Miniature Man, ridden by Reyan Lewis, defeated stablemate Lure of Lucy (Omar Walker) by a neck in the three-year-old and upward Overnight Allowance contest.

In the race for the jockey’s championship, champion Anthony Thomas booted home three winners to draw level with Dane Dawkins at the top of the standings. Thomas won aboard Stomp The Rhythm for trainer Vincent Atkinson in the fifth race; Regnant for trainer Dennis Thwaites in the sixth race; and Burlap for trainer Richard Azan in the seventh race, for a natural hat-trick.

Thomas, who started the day with 85 winners, took his tally to 88 winners, the same as Dawkins (88 wins), who was winless.

The 2022 TOBA Yearling Sale continues today in the official car park starting at noon while racing continues next weekend with races on Saturday and Sunday.