The three-day Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited Emancipendence promotion, featured on day two, was the 85th renewal of the 2,000-metre Jamaica Oaks, a Classic restricted to native-bred three-year-old fillies and run as race 10. The Independence Day programme of 11 races on August 6 will be highlighted by the 104th staging of the 2,400-metre Jamaica Derby Classic for eligible three-year-old colts, geldings, and fillies.

Banadura, given her early season successes in Classic Trials, in which she was triumphant in the Hot Line Stakes and the Thornbird Stakes over 1,200 and 1,400 metres, respectively, finished well back in The Portmore over 1,500 metres and was only 14 lengths fourth to
Run Julie Run in the 1,600-metre 1000 Guineas, having led past halfway. There was a basis on which to question her stamina over longer trips.

Starting at odds of 6-1, Banadura pursued 99-1 bet early pacemaker Sippin On Sunshine before assuming the advantage 800 metres out and with no immediate response from her rivals turned for home better than three lengths clear. Well rated by Robert Halledeen, Banadura stayed on well inside the last 200 metres to score by two and a half lengths.

Two-time champion and season-leading conditioner Jason DaCosta saddled four of the 13 declarations and Banadura’s Oaks victory means the second-generation horseman has now only missed out in the 1000 Guineas, but so far has added the 2000 Guineas and the St Leger to his 2024 exploits. As expected, Madelyn’s Sunshine (1-2), ridden by leading reinsman Tevin Foster, won race nine over 1,100 metres to give the DaCosta stable the first of the two successes.

The opening event of 10 on the card was won by 3-5 favourite Expeditious (Kerry-Gayl Robinson) for trainer Nieve Graham. The seven-year-old gelding arrived in the final stride of the 1,100-metre gallop to score by a neck over front-runner
Buzz Assault (6-1).

In race two, contested over 1,500 metres, 38/1 bet Atomic Energy (Matthew Bennett), declared by Adrian Prince, as well as the 8-5 backed stable mate Another Wave, who finished second, was always clear of her five rivals in winning by over six lengths. Whilst in race three over 1,200 metres, hard-knocking five-year-old horse Whisky (3-5), ridden by two-kilo claimer, was driven to score by a half a length for trainer Errol Burke.

Trained by Delroy Wisdom and partnered by Oniel Mullings, Cave Man (5-2) led and won the 1,000-metre round fourth event by just over one length. Meanwhile, Adenosine ( Shane Ellis) cantered in over 10 lengths ahead of his nearest rival in race five run at 1,000 metres straight. This was the first of the Enos Brown stable double, which was confirmed in the 1,100-metre race eight when maiden Rachael Manning (Reyan Lewis), bet at 7-5, made all the running and managed to hold on by a short head.

Installed 7-5 favourite, Errol Subratie’s Bernard De Quik (Raddesh Roman) had no threats in winning the 1,400-metre sixth by 13¼ lengths. Roman secured a second success with Anthony Nunes’ Trust Fund Baby (3-1), scoring from in front by two-and-a-half lengths over the 1,200 metres of race seven.

In saddling Banadura to win the Oaks and Rosetta to finish second, DaCosta is presented with the Training Feat Award. Bandura’s flawless display of speed, stamina, and courage was the Best Winning Gallop whilst Robert Halledeen’s execution of judgement of pace and balance is fittingly recognised with the Jockeyship Award.