RICHARD HENRY CONTINUES TO PROGRESS

Apprentice jockey Richard Henry continued to make noticeable progress in the saddle after winning his eighth winner for the season aboard High Diplomacy, in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($400,000-$300,000) race that also included six-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of four).

High Diplomacy, owned and trained by Borris McIntosh, was unable to go with the early leaders and sat in mid-pack when the 6-furlong (1,200m) event got underway. High Diplomacy came into view approaching the half-mile (800m) when he began his run against the inside rails but lost some ground when Henry had to pull to avoid traffic problems.

Finding his groove turning for home, High Diplomacy hugged the inside rails and produced a strong run to put away rivals by 6 ¼ lengths ahead of Bold Sami (Shavon Townsend) and Duke of Springs (Nicholas Hibbert). High Diplomacy hit the line in a time of 1:16.1 (23.4 x 48.3).

FAULT LINE COMES GOOD

Fault Line, after numerous disappointing efforts including some close finishes as the favourite, finally came good for his connections with an easy win going one mile (1,600m), registering his second win from 13 starts in 2023.

Fault Line‘s triumph was in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($550,000-$500,000) race that included five-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of four) and imported five-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three).

Trained by Jason DaCosta and ridden by Phillip Parchment, Fault Line raced in mid-pack down the backstretch and watched as Bin Laden (Roger Hewitt) led the field. Fault Line then made his move approaching the half-mile when he went in chase of the new leader Simba The Lion (Reyan Lewis).

Samba The Lion tried to steal a match of rivals but Fault Line produced a late run and went on to win by 9 ¾ lengths. Simba The Lion held on for second place with Wright In Flight (Ramon Nepare) filling the third slot. The final time was 1:43.0 (24.0 x 47.1 x 1:13.1).

PRINT QUALITY IN THE NICK OF TIME

Consistency paid for Print Quality as the Anthony Dixon trainee got up in time to beat rivals in a native-bred four-year-old and upwards (non-winners of two) and imported four-year-olds and upwards (maidens) at 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m).

With Anthony Allen in the saddle, Print Quality settled among the backmarkers as Storm A Come (Jordan Barrett) set the early fractions. Salud (Dane Dawkins), Cotterwood Kathy (Tevin Foster), and Minidewak (Javaniel Patterson) chased the leader into the half-mile turn.

Print Quality slowed rounded horses coming into lane but was still off the leaders as Storm A Come and Salud battled for supremacy. Inside the final furlong, Allen produced the four-year-old bay gelding for an effort which resulted in victory by a neck.

Storm A Come was second and Heroine (Oshane Nugent) third. The final time was recorded at 1:09.2 (23.2 x 47.1).

REDEMPTION FOR MILLINIUM STAR

Four-year-old bay filly Millinium Star, who was disqualified from first place three starts back, found redemption on her 18th attempt in a maiden condition race for native-bred four-year-olds and upwards.

Going 5 ½ furlongs, Millinium Star, with Javaniel Patterson in the saddle, chased Hunza (Reyan Lewis) and Esuse Me Goodby (Devon A Thomas) going into the bend. Approaching the distance, the Carlton Cunningham trainee slipped down into second place as Hunza opened up on the field entering the drive.

Millinium Star came off the turn and went wide into the lane, losing some ground on the leader. Patterson kept his mount well-balanced and Millinium Star got up in the nick of time to nip Hunza for the win. Millinium Star won by a neck as Who Doneit (Nicholas Hibbert) finished third. The final time was 1:10.2 (24.0 x 47.4).

TWO CLAIMS

Nicholas Smith claimed the winner of the first race High Diplomacy, for $400,000 from trainer Borris McIntosh.

In the third race, Henry Harrison claimed The Citadel for $550,000 from trainer Peter-John Parsard.