FEATURED on the programme of 10 races as another renewal of the Distinctly Irish Graded Stakes/Open Allowance over the extended and circular nine-furlong, 25-yard course, top-rated campaigner, 2024 Mouttet Mile hero, and Horse Of The Year Funcaandun (USA), at even money, was surprisingly the second favourite behind the next-highest-rated entry, Barnaby (USA) offering 4-5.

For the first of a stable double, champion and leading trainer this season Jason DaCosta, in addition to
Funcaandun, declared Mamma Mia for a pace-making role, and progressive three-year-old colt Girvano (USA), handclapped at an advantageous 101lbs. This young importee received 25lbs each from Funcaandun and Barnaby, conditioned by Anthony Nunes.

At the finish Girvano, ridden by Jordan Barrett, was a length ahead of Funcaandun (USA), with Blue Vinyl (8/1) just under three lengths in third, leaving Barnaby no better than six lengths fourth. DaCosta’s double success was confirmed in the nightcap with Himaya (3-1) scoring by one length and quarter over seven furlongs, claimer Shaheen Gordon executing the riding honours with confidence.

Former top-class campaigner God Of Love (8-5), now a nine-year-old gelding and competing in an event for $500,000 claimers, over five furlongs round, was nearly eight lengths better than 4-5 favourite Cataba. Entered by owner/trainer FitzGerald Richards and partnered by apprentice Richie Shakes, God Of Love, in winning this opening event, has now secured a 17th career success from 69 appearances.

In race two, maiden colt Hickory Slim(6-5), saddled by Donovan Phillips and guided by Aaron Chatrie, arrived in the final strides of the six-and-half-furlong gallop to touch off front runner SweetBern (6-5) by a neck. Hickory Slim, a four-year-old full brother to seven-year-old all-time great sprinter Mahogany, has proven difficult to train and was racing for only the seventh occasion.

The results of races three and seven were special for 2022 champion jockey Dane Dawkins as on his birthday he had double success. First, Steven Todd entry King’s Crown (4-5) scored by one length over six furlongs of race three. Then, Dawkins won race seven by just under one length with Gary Subratie’s Flybluejet (2-1) over the distance of five furlongs round.

Five unraced juveniles lined up for the straight three-furlong dash of four, and Fernando (1-1), a two-and-half-length winner, was the first of four successes on the day for former three-time champion trainer Anthony Nunes. This was also the opener of a riding double for champion and 2025 runaway leader Raddesh Roman, starting the day on 83, with second-placed Robert Halledeen on 38 wins. With 29 race days remaining this season Roman has secured his second riding title already.

For Nunes’ second, Shane Ellis rode three-year-old maiden Platinum Princess (5-2) to win race five over four furlongs straight by three parts of a length.

Roman picked up the closing leg of his double aboard 3-5 bet UncapturedEmpress (USA) by a short head over the five-furlong straight of race five for Nunes’ three of four. For Nunes’ fourth and final, Enthusiasm (6-1), with 2011 champion reinsman Dick Cardenas, finished strongly to beat 2-5 favourite Prince Roy over six and a half furlongs.

The Training Feat Award is presented to FitzGerald Richards for the performance of God Of Love who, following an unplaced effort last December, had only one start in March of this year but looked very well in the post-parade and performed accordingly, belying his age. The Best Winning gallop was delivered by Girvano (USA) while the Jockeyship Award goes to Jordan Barrett for executing the tactical plan of trainer DaCosta perfectly.

Shane Ellis enters the winners’ enclosure aboard Platinum Princess. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)