MUCH to the annoyance of all parties, a malfunctioning photo-finish apparatus resulted in the abandonment of the intended Maiden event restricted to three year olds as the first of 10 races.

In horse-racing the availability of photo-finish equipment is considered one of the most important innovations. In the eras prior, all close calls were contentious decisions and dead heats were commonplace, which before the advent of digital technology made the calculation of dividends a nightmare.

Run as the closing event, the second renewal of 1500-metre The Kingston Futurity for three-year-old colts and geldings was the feature presentation as these Classic aspirants prepare for the season’s major events. Juvenile champion Mojito, the 3-5 favourite and winner of the Prince Consort Stakes, demonstrated he is a cut above current opposition as he turned in a 15-length romp — with any effort from champion rider Dane Dawkins surplus to the requirement for the second of his riding double. It is likely to take extraordinary improvement from his known rivals to lower the colours of the impressively conformed, Richard Azan-conditioned grey colt.

The third event, run at 1100 metres, was won by 3-5 favourite True Al Sky, ridden by Javaniel Patterson for trainer Errol Waugh.

In race three, run over the same course, Hopenperseverance (utero), out for the 13th occasion this season, was nearly four lengths better than the nearest of five rivals, with Tevin Foster in the saddle for trainer Ryan Darby. On the day the hard-knocking mare was the first of two winners for Tevin Foster.

Race four saw 50-1 shot Dancing With A Cat — bred, owned and trained by Carl Anderson — finishing strongest to claim the major portion of the purse for the 1400-metre gallop. In his career Sadiki Blake rarely gets mounts that give him a realistic shot of success. Things may be getting better, though, as the infrequently engaged reinsman enjoyed his third success from 26 rides this season in delivering a confident display of jockeyship.

In race five three-year-old-debutante Golden Syrup, having advertised her ability with a few decent spins at exercise, was installed the 1-2 favourite. Bred at Orange Valley, the grey filly by Lion Tamer, schooled by Anthony Nunes, led and held on well to confirm Foster’s double riding success. However a clocking of 49.1 for 400 metres straight and a winning margin of only a neck does not suggest that at the non-winners of two level her rivals will have too much to fear.

Speaking of exercise spins, Sensational Satin was impressive in two workouts. Saddled by Vincent Atkinson for the first of two successes and bet at 6-5 favourite, the six-year-old mare duly added to the spate of wide margin winners which is now virtually a feature of Caymanas racing. Miss Natalie Berger, in riding her second winner of the season from 14 mounts, could neither see nor hear rivals as Sensational Satin won by 16 lengths in a spectacular 59.4 for the 1000-metre straight run of race six.

For the 1300-metre race seven the most heavily backed favourite on the card Johncrowjeff (1-9), declared by champion and leading conditioner Jason DaCosta and ridden by Reyan Lewis, was the sixth and fifth winner of the two-day race meet for trainer and jockey, respectively.

Stomp The Rhythm (Anthony Thomas), in giving trainer Atkinson his double, also contributed to plethora of very clear winners with a six-length romp over the 1600 metres of race eight.

Predictably in race nine, run over 1200 metres, Duke (1-2), declared by Gary Subratie, was the first of the two wins for Dawkins as the big grey sprinter dominated proceedings from 400 metres out to score by over six lengths while easing down. The seven-year-old progeny of Casual Trick won for the 14th time in 68 career starts, bankrolling more the $18.0 million.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Vincent Atkinson for the improvement of promoted Stomp The Rhythm who, although up in category, made light work of five useful opponents with the Best Winning Gallop of the afternoon. With so many clear winners it is not difficult to determine who gets the Jockeyship Award. Sadiki Blake had most to do on 50-1 outsider Dancing With A Cat as he was forced to seek racing space for a clear run 200 metres out and accomplished it decisively.