Shane “Canter Man” Ellis, a two-time champion jockey, made a triumphant return to the winners’ enclosure, guiding Last Dance to a convincing victory in the second race on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

The win came in a native-bred five-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two) and imported five-year-olds and upward (maidens) going 5 furlongs straight.

Last Dance, trained by Michael Marlowe, came from behind rivals to take the event by 6 ¼ lengths in a time of 1:02.2 (23.2 x 48.0).

“The win was very good,” Ellis told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.

“I felt so good. I came back to my country and I won on my second ride of the day. That was so good and I am happy.

“Well, Mr Marlowe told me that he is putting me on this horse. The horse wasn’t my weight but Marlowe said that I can make it up for the weight because he doesn’t care about weight when I am riding for him,” Ellis said.

Ellis held Last Dance just off the pace as Adenosine (Richard Henry) blazed the early trail ahead of Wearyourhonur (Jawani Forbes). Coming across the dummy rails, Adenosine had a good lead but failed to maintain it in the latter phases of the race, allowing
Last Dance to take the win.

Adenosine held onto second place ahead of Asurety (Roger Hewitt) in third place.

“I watched the horse run with Prince Holder the last time and so I knew that I had to get a good break at the start. I held her up in third or fourth position and took it from there on,” Ellis explained. “I am leaving this weekend to go back to Woodbine.”