Much like he ended the 2022 season, Ian Parsard’s Mahogany opened his season on a high as he expectedly made light work of rivals in the three-year-old and upwards Graded Stakes/Open Allowance event for the Eileen Cliggott Memorial Trophy at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

Despite shouldering top weight of 57.0kg (126lb), the classy six-year-old chestnut gelding (Sensational Slam–Mete-Orite) was never in any danger of having his colours lowered throughout the six-and-a-half furlong (1,300m) contest, even though he had to come from behind the fleet-footed She’s My Destiny (Omar Walker).

Champion jockey Dane Dawkins broke Mahogany well and bided his time in second, allowing She’s My Destiny to dictate terms for most of the way.

When they left the three-furlong mark and entered the home stretch, She’s My Destiny tried to escape Mahogany’s attention but Dawkins quickly had the big gelding draw alongside the filly, before moving away to win by two and three quarter lengths. Duke (Anthony Thomas) closed for third with Curlin’s Affair (Ramon Nepare) fourth.

Mahogany covered the distance in a tidy 1:19.2. The splits were 23.2, 46.4, and 1:12.0.

Meanwhile, Robert Halledeen topped all jockeys with three winners to take his tally to eight this season. He won the first and second aboard Select Me and Sir John for Patrick Lynch and Jason DaCosta, respectively, before topping the sixth aboard Olde Wharf, also for DaCosta.

Veteran rider Trevor “Slicer” Simpson had a double aboard Alford Brown’s Salute The Deputy and Awesome Anthony for trainer Patrick Taylor.

Aaron Chatrie and trainer Colin Blair also had a double on the day as they partnered to win the seventh and 10th with Sensational Storm and Classical Orb, respectively.

Action continues today with nine races on offer.

— Sherdon Cowan