Inside the last 100 yards of the seven-furlong opening event, Clowning Around (3-1) was certainly not engaged in a humorous exercise.

The 2022 riding titlist Dane Dawkins induced a strong and sustained late effort from Clowning Around to be declared the winner of the final stride and deny game front-runner Xylophonic Steel (17/1) by the minutest official advantage of a nose.

Third-generation conditioner Steven Todd, whose grandfather LC and dad Richard, founding president of the United Racehorse Trainers Association’ of Jamaica, were well recognised members of the cohort, was saddling career success number 300.

A measure of the loss of prestige by the industry and the passage of time is that there are no racing families the ilk of the Nuneses and the Husseys with the matriarchs fully active as owners and breeders.

Uncle Harry (3-5), whose expected successful debut, three weeks prior, was botched when he bolted to the left at the start and was last of 10. On this occasion, the Bern Identity-bred colt, well schooled by Ian Parsard, did nothing wrong over the seven-and-a-half-furlong gallop. He scored easily from in front with 2023 champion Reyan Lewis at the reins. The winning margin of seven-and-a-half lengths suggests this winner will be taking his chances in the 2025 Futurities.

Speaking of champion jockeys, reigning Raddesh Roman had the first of a three-timer aboard Philip Feanny’s impressive US-bred three-year-old filly Supernatural Power (1-9), who cantered hard-held over maximum straight course to win by nearly seven lengths. Before long, if all goes well, this dark-grey importee will be vying for some of the major prizes this season.

For the second of his three, Roman had to utilise the full range of his skill set to get the Delroy Wisdom declared Sir John (3-1) home a half a length in the fourth over seven furlongs. Whilst the third came in race seven over five furlongs round aboard 1-2 bet Generational by a margin of 12½ lengths for young trainer Adrian Prince.

Race five, a three-and-a-half-furlong dash over the straight course, was secured by 13-year-old 31-1 shot
Fiery Path, ridden by claiming jockey Rickie Shakes to a one-length victory for trainer Colin Ferguson.

Another claiming jockey who claimed success was Tajay Suckoo, who, riding for trainer Spencer Chung in the featured Mabrouk Sprint Trophy over five furlongs straight, looked most accomplished in driving US-bred Champion Bubbler (10-1) to a near three-length success.

Trainer Anthony Nunes and jockey Tevin Foster, whose 132 winners failed by only one to share the 2024 riding title, combined to win races six and eight. Firstly, it was Irish Wish (3-5), then secondly Immeasurable Joy (6-1) over the maximum distance of the straight course and seven furlongs by two-and-a-half and a half a length, respectively.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Spencer Chung for the return to form of Champion Bubbler (USA). To say this six-year-old barren mare is difficult to train is an understatement, with three wins from 11 starts in 2023 and one second from six races in 2024. All told, Champion Bubbler (USA) has improved her career to four successes from 17 appearances and delivered a workmanlike Best Winning Gallop with Tajay Suckoo earning the Jockeyship Award.