Raddesh Roman was exciting in the saddle during the last quarter of the 2023 racing season. His dominating presence resulted in 50 wins for the year — a significant improvement from 17 wins in 2022.

Roman continued his outstanding riding form and enjoyed what is the biggest day of his promising career with a six-timer on the 10-race card on Sunday, January 28, 2024.

It was truly a Sunday to remember for the spirited young rider as, with the large gathering at the ‘Park’ cheering his every flash of the whip, Roman rode six winners for the first time in his career on a single race programme: Crown Chaser, Dodge This Link, Great Wayne, Sensational Move, A Gift From Ben, and Wow How.

Roman now joins a selected band of riders to have ridden six or more winners in the history of Caymanas Park. The last jockey to ride six winners was four-time champion Dane Nelson, who accomplished the feat on November 17, 2013. Those wins earned Nelson a nomination for the National Sportsman and Sportswoman People’s Choice Award.

Roman, who is nominated for the most-improved rider award for 2023, said that Sunday, January 27, 2024 will be a day that he will treasure for the rest of his life.

“It is a wonderful and amazing feeling to win six races in one day. I am feeling great, and I want to thank everybody — the owners, trainers, grooms, connections, and others—who have made this possible,” Roman told the Jamaica Observer’s Supreme Racing Guide.

“For me, it is just to continue to put in the hard work and continue to get the job done. I used to play around a bit and never really take my career that seriously, but right now I am focused and dedicated to my profession.

“I got an agent [Bredda], and he sat down and talked to me, which has changed my approach to the game. His guidance, encouragement, and support have put me on the right path, and it is for me to continue on that,” Roman said.

The win aboard Sensational Move and A Gift From Ben came in both divisions of the $1.25 million James B Dawes Memorial Trophy feature races over 5 ½ furlongs (1,100m).

Trained by Gary Subratie, Sensational Move won division one of the Overnight Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward by 12 ½ lengths in a time of 1:05.4 (23.1 x 46.2). Finishing second was Kwaku (Jerome Innis), while third was The Good Witch (Ramon Nepare).

A Gift From Ben was also an easy winner of division two as the five-year-old chestnut mare made one get up to win by 4 lengths ahead of Milos (Tevin Foster) and God of Love (Chris Mamdeen). The winning time was 1:06.4 (23.2 x 46.2).

Crown Chaser and Wow How won the second and 10th and final race, respectively, for trainer Anthony Nunes. Dodge This Link won the fifth race for trainer Joseph Thomas, and Great Wayne won the sixth race for trainer Marlon Pusey.

“I had a dream that I was going to win against Great Wayne. It was the first time that I had dreamed about a horse, and that dream came true. I was pretty confident in the chances of Wow How because I have been working with him in the mornings and she has been doing well. Every time I worked her, I told the groom that I was going to win on his horse. He was laughing every time, and I told him to wait and see, and so I won on her,” he said.

“All of the horses I rode showed up, and I am grateful. The connections presented the horses in good condition, and I was just happy that I could deliver,” Roman added.

Roman, who had won two races the previous race day for a total of eight winners over the weekend, has taken over the lead in the jockeys’ race. Roman has 13 wins, four more than previous leader Tevin Foster, who has nine wins.

“Most definitely, I have the jockeys’ championship in mind. I am taking a shot at it. It won’t be easy, but I am willing to do the work,” Roman said.