In a thrilling display of speed and dominance, Mack and Rome, trained by Saqlain Roman, left his more-fancied rivals in the dust to claim the $1.19-million Royal Dad Trophy on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

From the starting gates, Victor “Wild” Sanchez expertly guided the bay colt to take the lead, and Mack and Rome never looked back. With a blistering pace, they crossed the finish line 3 ¼ lengths ahead of the pack, stopping the clock at 1:56.1 (25.3 x 48.4 x 1:13.2 x 1:40.2). Princess Amahle (Dane Dawkins) and Allegiance (Tevin Foster) followed home Mack and Rome in that order.

The Restricted Stakes race, spanning 9 furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m), was designed for imported three-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three) and native-bred three-year-olds and four-year-olds (non-winners of four). Mack and Rome is a four-year-old bay colt bred by Bold Conquest out of the Legal Process mare, Gold Miner.

Mack and Rome’s victory was a testament to Roman’s confidence in his charge.

“This is a very rude horse,” Roman exclaimed in a post-race interview with the
Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide. “I expected a comfortable win, and he delivered. As the lone speed in the race, we used that to our advantage.”

Roman’s strategic decision paid off, and Mack and Rome’s impressive performance has set the stage for future successes. The trainer is already eyeing another Restricted Stakes race next month over the same distance.

“Let’s see how he comes out of this before planning our next move,” Roman said, hinting at bigger aspirations for his talented colt,” Roman said.

— Ruddy Allen