Fifty-year-old jockey Andre Wright was all smiles on Sunday after guiding Native Flyer, a 26-1 outsider trained by Steven Todd, to victory in the sixth race on the card at Caymanas Park. The five-straight sprint marked Wright’s first win at Caymanas Park since 2005, ending a near two-decade drought.

The veteran rider, who returned home last year after several years competing in Canada, was very happy for the victory as he celebrated the hard-fought victory. “It feels good to be back in the winners’ enclosure back at home because it has been a long time,” said Wright. “From 2005 I haven’t won a race here. I have been in Canada for a while riding over there, so it is good to be here and winning again.”

Wright explained how the opportunity to ride Native Flyer came about and expressed his gratitude to trainer Steven Todd and the horse’s owner.

“I rode him three furlongs the other morning and I said to the trainer, ‘I like this horse and I would like to ride him,’ and he put me up,” Wright recalled. “I didn’t disappoint him because I rode a good race for this victory.”

The win was especially sweet after a fruitless return to the local circuit in 2024.“I have been here from last year riding, but I didn’t win any races. I just kept going until I got fit, and now this win has come,” Wright said.

“It is kind of tough here, but you have to keep on working and working and then finally the wins will come.” With his long-awaited victory now secured, Wright is setting his sights on more success during the season.

“I want to achieve more wins this year because with me and this trainer working together, we can do great things,” he said. “I’ will be here all season, I am not going back to Canada this year.”