OF the eleven champion jockeys crowned over the last quarter of a century, interestingly, there were seven with engagements on this programme of 10 races.

Absent were Charles Hussey and Trinidadian Brian Harding, both retirees, who won in 2001 and 2006, respectively. Trevor Simpson, whose last of five titles came in 2003, is still active. Other notable absentees, riding in North America, were Dane Nelson (2012, 2013, 2014, 2021) and Anthony Thomas 2018, 2020 and 2021 shared with Nelson.

Present were Omar Walker (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017), Dick Cardenas (2011), Shane Ellis whose second title came in 2015, Christopher Mamdeen (2019), Dane Dawkins (2022), Reyan Lewis (2023), and reigning champion Raddesh Roman. At the end of the day only Walker and Lewis missed out.

Ellis, for the first of three wins on the day, earned one of the easiest 10 per cent riding fee commissions in his distinguished career. Bet at 1-5 Propellant (USA), saddled by Gary Subratie, was in front by nearly 14 lengths at the end of the seven-furlong opener.

Ellis, a second-generation reinsman whose dad Winston was a three-time champion, secured his second aboard the Anthony Nunes-schooled maiden colt Easy Money (4-5) for victory of just beyond a length over five and a half furlongs.

In race three, run at six and a half furlongs, Charming Sound (6-5), declared by former jockey Tensang Chung, needed the entire skill set of Dawkins to land the spoils by a neck over 2-1 choice Waterman John (Robert Halledeen).

Trained by Adrian Prince, Generational (1-2) was able to dominate the last fractions to score by two and a half lengths over five and a half furlongs, for Roman’s first of a double.

Cardenas had double success in races five and six at very generous odds. Firstly, Sensational Gold (11-1) won by three lengths from in front over seven furlongs for trainer Randolph Scott. Secondly, it was Patrick Lynch’s maiden importee Wicked Cassie (USA), at 26-1, whose strong late run overhauled 23-1 front-runner So Beautiful (23/1) in the last 25 yards. Victory was secured by a length and a quarter in running on over the five-and-half-furlong course.

Four-year-old maiden Sheer De Jour (6-5), saddled by owner Alford Brown and guided by 10-pound claiming jockey Tajay Suckoo, beat her nearest of five rivals in race seven by seven lengths over six furlongs.

Mamdeen aboard Huntsman (9-2), presented in unbeatable form by Gary Griffiths, won race eight over the minimum trip on the round course by nearly 10 lengths.

For Ellis’s third winner, race nine over seven and a half furlongs ended in a victory margin of nine lengths and a quarter for conditioner Peter-John Parsard’s US-bred Main Mistress (4-5).

In the tenth event, another renewal of the featured James B Dawes Memorial Trophy, Divine Force (USA), entered by former 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny, was just under three lengths in front of her closest rival at the end of the five-and-a-half-furlong gallop, to confirm Roman’s double.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Patrick Lynch for the performance of Wicked Cassie (USA), who was well behind in her two outings prior but was presented to deliver the Best Winning Gallop under the guidance of Dick Cardenas for his Jockeyship Award.