RAMON NEPARE CONTINUES

Ramon Nepare rode Select Me to register his 12th winner of the season in a native-bred four-year-old and upward s(non-winners of three) and imported four-year-old and upwards (non-winners of two) going a mile (1,600m).

Select Me, owned and trained by Patrick Lynch, was unable to match strides with the leaders, racing at the back of the pack, as Dream of Paris (Omar Walker) led the field down the backstretch ahead of Delay The Game (Matthew Bennett), Traditional Boy (George Samuda), and AKA Storm (Dan Dawkins).

Select Me continued to race off the pace as Dream of Paris upped the tempo navigating the half-mile (800m) ahead of Delay The Game and Traditional Boy. The four-year-old dark bay filly Select Me then produced a late surge and powered her way to a 2 ½-length win at the wire.

Lion of Ekati (Reyan Lewis) came from way behind to finish second ahead of Dream of Paris in third place. The final time for the race was 1:43.4 (24.3 x 48.1 x 1:14.2)

SLAM DUNK

Three-year-bay colt Slam Dunk was awarded first place in a Maiden Condition Race for native-bred three-year-olds over 9 furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) following the disqualification of winner Mr Senator.

With Dane Dawkins in the saddle for trainer Gary Subratie, Slam Dunk sat second behind Here Comes Doc (Anthony Allen) while navigating the clubhouse turn and onto the main track. Slam Dunk was then taken off the pace, allowing Here Comes Ken (Phillip Parchment) to challenge Here Comes Doc down the backstretch.

Approaching the half-mile, Dawkins sent Slam Dunk in chase of Here Comes Doc and the bay colt along with Mr Senator joined the leader at the top of the lane. With three horses spread across the track in a very tight cluster, Mr Senator gained the upper hand close home and won by over five lengths.

Slam Dunk finished second and Home Alone (Devon A Thomas) third. The final time was recorded at 2:03.0 (28.2 x 53.2 x 1:19.0 x 1:46.4). After a lengthy steward’s inquiry and jockey’s objection lodged by Dawkins against the winner, the colours of Mr Senator were taken down and the race awarded to Slam Dunk with Home Alone promoted to second.

SIMBA THE LION

Simba The Lion, after finishing in second place in his last two starts, went one better when winning a native-bred five-year-old and upwards (non-winners of three) and also for imported five-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of two) travelling 7 furlongs (1,400m).

Simba The Lion was not the best away at the start of the race but the Patrick Lynch trainee recovered quickly on the inside rails to surge to the lead passing the six-furlong (1,200m) point. Simba The Lion held the advantage ahead of Slamsilano (Paul Francis) down the backstretch before upping the tempo going into the half-mile.

Simba The Lion responded positively from the urgings from jockey Reyan Lewis in deep stretch and went on to win the by a length and three-quarter in a time of 1:31.2. (24.1 x 48.1 x 1:14.1). Victoriasmedallion (Tevin Foster) finished second and Genealogy (Shavon Townsend) third. Maya (Raddesh Roman) finished second but was disqualified for causing interference during the running of the race.

COALITION

Coalition, after four career starts, found the winning post in front in Division 1 of a Restricted Maiden Condition race for native-bred three-year-olds at 7 furlongs (1,400m).

Coalition settled in second position down the backstretch behind Princess Akilah (Youville Pinnock) with Golden Loyalty (Javaniel Patterson) and Skyrizi (Andree Powell) racing further in the pack. Coalition maintained his steady progression going into in the half-mile as Skyrizi surged to the lead in an attempt to steal a march on the field.

Jockey Raddesh Roman let loose on Coalition and the Dale Murphy trainee surrounded Skyrizi at the top of the lane before pulling away for a length and a quarter. The Bees Knees (Shavon Townsend) finished second and Sweet Victory (Phillip Parchment) third in a final time of 1:31.1 (24.2 x 48.1 x 1:15.0).

THREE HORSES CLAIMED

In the first race, Adrian Prince claimed Ali for owner Anthony Shim from Donwell Dawes for $250,000; Gary Crawford claimed Thunderstrike for owner K & R Syndicate form Ryan Williams for $250,000; and Alford Brown claimed My Mom Juss for owner Allan Flynn from Lennis Shim, also for $250,000.