The annual staging of Jockeys’ Guild raceday is important in the sense that it provides the stakeholders and certain caring sponsors the opportunity to demonstrate their appreciation of these professionals tangibly. Phillip Parchment, president of the guild, was very involved in the activities. To the delight of those of us who admire his enterprising riding tactics was pleased as he outsprinted his competitors in the jockeys’ gimmick event.

The featured Jockeys’ Guild Trophy, run as race five at seven furlongs, had an interesting outcome. Guided by Teneca Wolfe, even money favourite Buttercup, turned out in invincible condition by Richard Azan, led and was nearly six lengths clear at the finish. Formerly based in Canada, where in 2016 she was the first black female rider to win there, Wolfe has returned home to be close to her ailing father.

The opening event, over the five furlongs of the straight course, was won by hard-knocking four-year-old filly Valley Of Love (5-1) and was the first of three wins for champion and leading reinsman Raddesh Roman. Racing for the 27th occasion, the Phillip Elliot-conditioned winner arrived close home to better front-runner Noble Sovereign (8-5) by three parts of a length.

Roman followed up in race two with Unruly Mo (4-5). Owned and trained by Oral Hayden, the American-bred three-year-old colt stumbled at the start causing the rider’s left foot to slip from the stirrup iron. Roman’s calm and skilful correction was achieved within 100 yards with Unruly Mo (USA) well-balanced and taking hold of the bit. Canadian-bred Miss Grove (5-2), proving to be a worthy and pesky opponent, was runner-up by only a neck at the end of one-mile gallop.

In race three, schooled Raymond Townsend, lightly raced maiden three-year-old filly Cutout (3-2) under the smooth handling of former champion Wesley Henry, was two and a quarter lengths better than Jodie’s Fund, who pursued over the entirety of the eight-furlong event. Bred and owned by Lesra Thompson, Cutout won at the fourth time of asking, having debuted on May 31 this season.

As the 33-year-old claiming system continues to yield farcical races and results, causing billions of dollars in losses, 1-9 favourite
Tiffany Express (Richard Byrd), trained by Peter-John Parsard, beat the nearest of four rivals by 15½ lengths over the seven furlongs of race four. The continued expectation that this product, which had 379 odds-on favourites in the 755 races programmed in 2024, is likely to generate economic viability for the industry is misplaced.

Ridden by veteran Ian Spence for the first of his double, General Chief (7-2), declared by Spencer Chung, was strongest in the closing stages of race six to be in front by three parts of length at the end of the six-furlong exertion. Spence confirmed his best day of the season with Philip Feanny’s progressive three-year-old colt Rideallday (USA) taking the 10th and closing event with a romp of just over eight lengths at odds of 6-5 for four successes from five appearances.

In race seven over eight furlongs, it was Roman’s opportunity to deliver a master class for a triple. His mount, Anthony Nunes’
Captain Sparrow, who is usually slow to get going early, was driven to lead for the first furlong before being settled to race in touch with the leaders. Got by frontrunning Mack And Rome(9-5) inside the last 200 metres and had enough momentum to hold off the strong late challenge of Brenda Boy(8-5) by a neck.

Generational(4-1), saddled by Carlton Cunningham and guided by Oneil Mullings, made all over the five and a half furlongs of race eight. Whilst 5-2 bet Bob The Builder (Shane Ellis), fresh from a distant fifth of 14 in the St Leger on the eighth of July, only managed to be a half a length superior to Beneison (8/1) at the end of the nine and a half furlong stamina test of race nine.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Raymond Townsend for his patience with the management of three-year-old filly Cutout, foaled on March 01, but only made it to the races five months into what should have been her second season. Captain Sparrow performed the Best Winning Gallop, and the Jockeyship Award goes to Raddesh Roman, whose three-timer was achieved with a display of his exceptional skill set, as the three winning distances, three parts of length and two necks combined, was only one length.