Dramatic Ash Wednesday Trophy grab for Green Gold Rush
After a superb stretch run involving six horses in contention for the win, the Dalton Sirjue-conditioned Green Gold Rush, under a well-timed ride from Dane Dawkins, got up in the nick of time to defeat rivals on the wire in the $1.25-million Ash Wednesday Trophy feature on Wednesday.
The seven-year-old bay gelding
Green Gold Rush came from a difficult second-to-last position in the 14-horse field going into the half-mile (800m) turn to win the Overnight Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward by a neck.
Green Gold Rush covered six and half furlongs (1,300m) in 1:21.2 (24.0 x 48.0 x 1:14.0).
Green Gold Rush was outpaced at the start of the race as
She’s My Friend (Abigail Able) led the field down the backstretch ahead of
Taurus Boy (Delroy Beharie) and
Power (Christopher Mamdeen). As the field approached the half-mile marker,
Green Gold Rush continued to labour around the back and only began to move near the home turn.
When all seemed lost in the stretch, Dawkins summoned his mount for an effort, and
Green Gold Rush exploded like a cannonball on fire, defeating
Get A Pepsi (Paul Francis) on the line.
Taurus Boy came in third, half-a-length behind.
It was the second winner on the 10-race card for Dawkins as the former champion rider had booted home
All For Love for trainer Gary Subratie in the opening event.
Also with two winners on the day were jockeys Tevin Foster and Roger Hewitt.
Foster won aboard Sugar Daddy for trainer Patrick Lynch in the second race and
Kissmet for trainer Steven Todd in the eighth race.
Hewitt was successful aboard Uncle Syl in the fourth race for owner/trainer Carlton Cunningham and
The Gifted One in the sixth race for trainer Lennis Shim.
The Gifted One was a chance ride for Hewitt, who had replaced Ruja Lahoe in the saddle.
Racing continues on Saturday.