Being awarded the feature contest for the Backstretch Support Trophy in the Steward’s Room is not how trainer Christopher Pearson intended to celebrate the performance by his charge Rejected Raja, but as is often said, a win is a win.

Pearson’s sentiments came after Rejected Raja and Philip Feanny’s Flybluejet engaged in an enthralling duel in the final furlong of the three-year-old and upwards non-winner of two races and imported maidens event over five-and-a-half furlongs (1,100m).

However, Flybluejet, ridden by Reyan Lewis, past the post first but was later disqualified for causing interference and intimidation to Rejected Raja piloted by Robert Halledeen.

“It wasn’t the way you wanted to win the race because we didn’t get to take photos with our horse, which is disappointing,” Pearson said in a post-race interview at Caymanas Park yesterday.

The race was expected to be a stroll for Flybluejet, but Pearson, with his bay colt Rejected Raja (Soul Warrior – Palace Gold), clearly had other ideas.

After a clean break, Flybluejet dashed through on the lead with Rejected Raja in close pursuit throughout. But when they turned for home, Halledeen asked Rejected Raja to run and they quickly joined Flybluejet at the furlong pole from where the duel ensued. They completed the distance in 1:09.3 after splits of 24.2 and 48.3 seconds.

Rejected Raja was the second winner for Halledeen, who earlier scored aboard Smarty Tradition for trainer Winchester McIntosh.

He shared riding honours with leading rider Tevin Foster, who also had a double in Noble Impulse for Anthony Nunes and Alford Brown’s Yellowstone, and Christopher Mamdeen, who won aboard Gresford Smith’s Code of Conduct and the Tyrone Prince-conditioned Special Counsel.