IN the first event of nine, run at 5 ½ furlongs, the odds-on favourite at 3-5, Heezalion, guided by 2011 champion Dick Cardenas, pursued pace-making Will The Conqueror (3-1) and seized the initiative early in the stretch drive to enter the final furlong with a lead of two and a half lengths. Heezalion held it safely to the line for trainer Owen Sharpe’s stable to register a third win from 17 starts this season.

In race two, debutant Sophie Say So (USA) was a very welcome addition to the horse population. Schooled by Spencer Chung, she was partnered by veteran and knowledgeable horseman Ian Spence. The well-conformed, attractive grey filly, starting as the 2-5 favourite, showed no sign of greenness and, in fact, did not do anything wrong in winning by over eight lengths.

Coming into race three with form significantly superior to his seven rivals, Alive (1-5), from the leading stable of champion Jason DaCosta, with little to fear, galloped to a victory margin of five lengths and a quarter over the six-furlong trip.

His rider, Reyan Lewis, the 2023 titlist, was never interested in anything beyond that, which could have been increased twofold. There were 11 lengths between Bodymove and the runner-up in race four, restricted to maidens not below five years old over six furlongs. Ridden by claimer Demar Williams, the Resurgence-bred dark bay horse, trained by former jockey Joseph Thomas, dominated the gallop at odds of 7-5 favourite.

Contested by a field of 13 over the minimum of five furlongs on the round course, She’s Dallas Love (2-1), with long-serving reinsman O’Neil Mullings, outsprinted 3-2 favourite Firecracker by four lengths over, giving the dual-based (Miami and Jamaica) conditioner Rohan Crighton win number six from 14 declarations this season. From opening at 2-1 and eventually backed at 5-2, Phenomenal One from the outfit of Lennis Shim, with claimer Shaheem Gordon executing a very alert start, never gave any of 12 rivals the opportunity to get too close. Always going well from the favoured post position 13, Phenomenal One bettered runner-up The Gifted One (33-1) by four lengths at the end of the four-furlong straight dash. Eight days ago, after an unsustainable challenge for the lead two furlongs out in the One-mile One Thousand Guineas by Danka (1-5), the very experienced trainer Richard Azan, in an unusual decision, declared her for today’s seventh event over six furlongs.

Once Wesley Henry had her on the early lead and, on the bridle, she increased the advantage all the way to score by just over seven lengths to justify the trainer’s deeming of her to be fit and capable of giving her best.

The eighth event over nine furlongs, the Valbert Marlowe Memorial, honoured the most distinguished accomplishment of this trainer, who won the inaugural Gold Cup in 1967 with an imported England-bred horse called Kilowatt, ridden by Cleveland Suckie.

The feat was repeated in 1968, but Kilowatt, a late non-starter in 1969, returned to score in 1970. Trainer Michael Marlowe, son of the honoree, occupies the same stable, which is adjacent to the nine-furlong start.

After being involved in a battle for the headline with Battle Angel (6-1) and the 11-1 bet Pineapple, claiming jockey Emelio McClean got an injection of pace to go clear with four furlongs of the nine-furlong gallop remaining, as his mount, Midnight Galaxy, owned and trained by Oral Hayden, outstayed Brenda Boy (8-5) by just over two lengths.

Whilst 2024 Jamaica Derby second runner-up Captain Sparrow (4-5), with his lack of early pace and finishing speed, left him at a similar distance back in third.

The featured Liu Chie Poo Trophy, staged as race nine to acknowledge the achievements of the 1988 Triple Crown champion, went to 7-5 favourite Rhythm Buzz. Conditioned by Vincent Anderson, the five-year-old progeny of Buzz Nightmare was ridden by Phillip Parchment.

Rhythm Buzz transformed his spectacular exercise gallops, including 1:40.3 for eight furlongs on June 7, into a runaway race day performance. Useful Overnight Allowance performer Blue Vinyl (2-1) finished nearly eight lengths behind in second place as Rhythm Buzz improved his career tally to nine wins and seven second-place finishes from 26 starts.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Oral Hayden for conditioning Midnight Galaxy to win three of its last four races and delivering the day’s Best Winning Gallop with such eye-catching speed and stamina in the Valbert Marlowe Memorial. Claiming rider Emelio McLean takes the Jockeyship Award for his judgment of pace and exploitation of the courage and stamina of
Midnight Galaxy to maximum effect.