JOCKEY Romario Spencer celebrated a double win on Saturday, July 12, 2025, taking his tally to four winners for the season.

In the ninth race Spencer rode Matuso, owned and trained by Howard McLeod, to a thrilling victory.
Matuso dominated the field from the start, opening up a comfortable lead and maintaining it throughout the seven-furlong race.

However, Spencer’s excitement got the better of him and he began showboating in the final furlong. This allowed Oil Machine to close the gap in deep stretch, making the finish nail-biting. In the end, Matuso held on by a short head to secure the win.

The race was a Restricted Allowance IV contest for native-bred four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three) and imported four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two).

Earlier in the day, Spencer won the third race aboard Mr Senator, trained by Anthony Nunes. Mr Senator came from behind runners to beat rivals going seven furlongs in a three-year-old and upward Claiming ($1.5-1.2 million) event. This win set the stage for Spence’s first of the day and contributed to his growing success this season.

—Ruddy Allen