Norblar and Divine Force both put in strong performances to win their respective divisions of the $1.19-million Vestia Trophy feature race at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

The Restricted Stakes events for imported three-year-olds (non-winners of the three) and native-bred three-year-olds and native-bred four-year-olds (non-winners four) were contested over seven-and-a-half furlongs (1,500m).

Gresford Smith’s Norblar comfortably won Division One by an eye-catching 5 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:32.3, but Philip Feanny’s Divine Force was more spectacular, winning Division Two by 6 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:32.2.

Norblar, ridden by Christopher Mamdeen, settled in second position behind Super Alex (Shavon Townsend) down the backstretch before charging to the front heading into the half-mile (800m) turn. Norblar extended his advantage as the race approached the home bend, and went on to beat Money Miser (Shamaree Muir) and Huntsman (Tevin Foster) easily at the wire.

It was Mamdeen’s second victory on the 10-race schedule, having previously won riding Jon P in the third race for trainer Colin Ferguson.

Divine Force, with Tevin Foster in the irons, took off nicely at the start of the race and raced in second position behind Joy Is Gold (Roger Hewitt) down the backstretch. Foster wasted no time in sending Divine Force to the lead from the five-furlong (1,000m) mark, and from there it was smooth sailing for the three-year-old bay colt. Divine Force won ahead of All For Love (Dane Dawkins) and Superio (Shane Richardson).

Trainers Oral Hayden and Patrick Lynch, as well as jockey Phillip Parchment, each had two winners on the day.

Hayden’s winners were Unruly Dude (Javaniel Patterson) in the first race and Unruly Boss (Parchment) in the fourth race. Parchment completed his double by winning the 10th and final event atop California Gold for Lynch.

Lynch had earlier saddled Sugar Daddy (Jordan Barrett) in the eighth race, giving him two victories.

Racing continues on Monday with the feature race being the fourth staging of the $4-million Ian Levy Cup to kick-start the 2024 racing season.