FEATURED on the the-race programme was the third renewal of the 1600-metre She’s A Maneater Trophy, staged as race seven, with champion and leading conditioner Jason DaCosta saddling four of the six declarations.

In this newspaper, the predictions odds indicated that two-time Horse Of The Year
Atomica was overestimated at 57.0 kilogrammes and near eight-length winner
Funcaandun (USA) — under handicapped at 46 kilos — was the first of two successes for the DaCosta barn and the second for jockey Jason Barrett.

Handicapping has to be restored to its 1992 status as an official function so as to conform with the relevant Jamaica Racing Commission 1977 Racing Rules.

This exercise was conducted by competent operatives before it was fatally bastardised to accommodate the counterproductive claiming system. Since then, the abandonment of classification to equalise the form of horses has led to inferior horses conceding weight to superior ones in every race, except the Classics and the Jamaica Two Year Old Stakes event run with traditional, predetermined sex allowances.

Schooled by former three-time champion Anthony Nunes for the early stages of her career,
Matriarch, from the stable of Cashbert Khwalsingh, was partnered by Tevin Foster for the first of a riding double. The eight-year-old mare at odds of 8/1 was four and a half lengths better than the nearest of her 11 rivals over the 700 metres of the opening event.

Coincidentally, another early inmate of the Nunes stable in the form of Minidiwak (7/2) made all the running under the guidance of second-generation and former two-time champion Shane Ellis.

The five-year-old bay mare, sired by Lion Tamer and declared by Oral Hayden, was always in control of the pace and scored by a length and a half at the end of the 1000-metre round gallop for the major portion of the purse for race two.

Race three, run at 1000 metres round, was won by 6/1 shot Cryptogirl, saddled by Donovan Plummer and ridden by Matthew Bennett. In a competitive field the three-year-old filly, who was prominent up to halfway in the 1000 Guineas, abandoned her preference for being on or near the lead and displayed an excellent turn of finishing speed. Well-ridden by Bennett, she sped past the battling leaders to win by just over one length.

Trained by Patrick Lynch, Legal Bomb — 3-5 favourite for the 1100-metre race four — lost many lengths with a late and unbalanced start, but not so stable companion
Storm A Come (7-1). Ridden by Jordan Barrett for the first of a riding double and for Lynch’s second on the day, Storm A Come led and was two and a half lengths better than runner-up Donalmighty (9-1).

Lynch’s second came in the 1100-metre race nine with Lion Charmer (11-1), to facilitate another Tevin Foster riding double.

Favourite Nakamura (4-5) won race five over 1,300 metres, with Raddesh Roman executing the riding honours for conditioner Errol Burke.

In race six, former six-time champion Omar Walker was aboard Phillip Lee’s maiden
Abreathoffreshair (6-1). In front before the event was too old, he never quite looked likely to be caught, although getting home only by a reducing three parts of a length.

Trainer Paul Swaby’s Golden Loyalty, the even-money joint favourite, won the 1000-metre race eight run on the round course, with two-kilogramme claimer Shavon Towsend at the reins, for victory by a length and a quarter.

In the closing event run at 1000 metres straight DaCosta’s second winner on the card was confirmed, with 5-1 bet Chocomo (USA) defeating stable companion and odds-on favourite Digital One (USA) by just over one length, Robert Halledeen executing the requisite riding skills.

The Training Feat Award goes to Paul Swaby for the return to form of Golden Loyalty who’s last six form lines may have suggested a loss of zest for racing by the four-year-old colt.

However, on Saturday Golden Loyalty was game enough to deliver the Best Winning Gallop, with the skills of Shavon Townsend recognised with the Jockeyship Award.