STAGED as race nine, the traditional Labour Day Trophy over seven furlongs lived up to expectations as a close finish ensued. Major Danger (USA), partnered by champion and leading reinsman Raddesh Roman and bet as the 8-5 favourite, controlled the early fractions before going clear, pursued by
Interestntimesahead (5-2) with 2023 champion Reyan Lewis executing the riding honours for trainer Jason DaCosta.

The US import Major Danger’s advantage was under threat a furlong and a half from the finish, but he battled on gamely until worn down by Interestntimesahead in the final strides for the DaCosta stable to claim a second success on the card. Winner of the 2023 St Leger, it was a welcome return to form by the well-conformed four-year-old Bold Conquest colt and, Interestntimesahead is now assured of further successes this season.

Following up on his debut nearly nine months ago, three-year-old maiden Global Pursuit (3-5) was the first of two winners from the high-powered stable of champion Jason DaCosta as he sprinted home nearly three lengths clear of the nearest rival in the opening four-furlong event.

Winning rider Robert Halledeen, whose early successes in the first quarter of the season had him in the conversion as a possible 2024 title contender, is no longer a talking point as his tally of 22 is all of 20 adrift of champion Raddesh Roman’s lead.

Dick Cardenas, the 2011 titlist, landed the first winner of a double success on the 10-race programme with
Heezalion (2-1) from the barn of Owen Sharpe, taking the five-furlong-straight race two.

Racing for the 118th time Golden Emperor (7-1), a sluggard who usually gets well behind early, led the five-furlong straight gallop of race three and held on by a neck for trainer Junior Panton, with claimer Anthony Allen at the reins for the aging 10-year-old’s fourth victory.

Former champion Wesley Henry, in a change of the horse’s preferred front-running tactics, produced a delayed effort from Patrick Taylor’s Awesome Anthony (4-5) to take race four, contested over five and a half furlongs.

In race five, with Shaheem Gordon in the irons, Six Avenue (25-1), declared by Lennis Shim, made all the running to score by just under five lengths.

At the end of the seven-furlong gallop of race six, Cardenas revisited the winners’ enclosure aboard Sir Wong Don (5-1) following a victory margin of three parts of a length for owner/trainer Alford Brown.

The aforementioned Raddesh Roman was in triple riding form, with three-year-old maiden Bob The Builder (1-1) outdistancing the closest of eight rivals by nearly 12 lengths over the eight-furlong stamina test of race seven to open the rider’s three-timer. Conditioner Greg Fennell has now saddled his sixth winner from 46 entries this year, to date.

For the second of his three on the day to be confirmed, Raddesh deployed the waiting tactics aboard accustomed front runner Midnight Galaxy (8-5). Owned and trained by Oral Hayden, for the stable’s first of two on the card, the grey colt took the lead only after turning for home and scored by just over three lengths at the end of the seven-and-a-half-furlong exertion of race eight.

Clearly, the overwhelming majority of the Roman fan club must have been left somewhat frustrated having neglected to back the Oral Hayden entry Another Mission.

Starting at odds of 13-1, the well-bred Bern Identity filly, running from well off the early pace in the nightcap, saved ground in the home turn to enjoy a clear path against the far rails for a victory margin of just over one length, thus confirming her stable’s double success and Roman’s three-timer.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Jason DaCosta for the return to form of Interestntimesahead whom had seemingly lost his zest for racing after hardly raising a gallop in its last five appearances. In terms of gameness and speed this was the Best Winning Gallop, but the success was due in no small measure to the assistance of Reyan Lewis who secures the Jockeyship Award.