THE 2023 champion, Reyan Lewis, won the opening event aboard 3-1 bet Queen Zan for long-serving trainer Steadman Curtis.

The seven-year-old chestnut mare won by almost four lengths over the three-and-half furlong dash for Lewis’s 27th success from 161 opportunities this season.

Truth be told, the enigmatic reinsman, with above-average ability, has not built on his title success of less than two years ago and is currently in fifth, with 2025 decided already. With 13 weeks of the season remaining he is 63 adrift of 2024 titlist and 2025 designate Raddesh Roman.

Race two, a Restricted Allowance for three-year-olds and upwards, was run over seven and a half furlongs in a contest of speed but requiring stamina as well. The five-runner field effectively set up an interesting match between Rocket Fire Seb (1-2), ridden by Raddesh Roman, and H Two O (2-1), with Shane Ellis up, the former conditioned by Spencer Chung and the latter by Jason DaCosta. In receipt of 5lbs, H Two O (USA), after an exciting battle from three furlongs out, was two lengths better on the day with the pair finishing well clear of the other three.

Firecracker (1-1), declared by former 14-time champion Philip Feanny and ridden by claimer Tyrese Anderson, scored by five lengths over the six furlongs of race three for the first of a stable double.

Also, for the first of a riding double, Roman won the eight-furlong race four by just under one length for owner/trainer Oral Hayden, who saddled Unruly Don (4-5).

The 2023 champion Dane Dawkins secured race five over the five-straight course by three lengths aboard
Dream To Reality (1-1) for trainer Saqlain Roman.

In race six, run at five and a half furlongs, 7-2 bet Princess Ifiyah won by nearly 10 lengths from in front, with Youville Pinnock executing the riding honours for former jockey-turned-trainer Errol Burke.

In a close finish, race seven went to maiden Miss Braeton (4-5), saddled by Ricardo Brown and partnered by leading claimer Demar Williams (30 wins), for the first of two on the 10-race card. This winner lasted home by a head over 9-5 chance You’re My Sweetie, ridden by Dawkins.

Race eight, over five and a half furlongs, was the featured Open Allowance Blumenthal Trophy event to honour the exploits of one of the greatest ever US imported thoroughbreds. A thoroughly versatile member of the opposite sex, Blumenthal won 19 of her 25 appearances. This was interspersed with weight-defying victories from five to 12 furlongs. On many occasions she had the assistance of all-time great champions and legendary reinsmen such as Charles Hussey and Emelio Rodriquez.

Demonstrating progressive form, 1-5 bet Rideallday (USA), an impressively conformed three-year-old grey colt, secured this feature for a sixth success from seven career starts. Although unbalanced and untidy at the start of the contest, the big importee only needed to be hand-ridden by Ian Spence to score by two and a half lengths in confirming the Feanny stable double.

Roman confirmed his double success in race nine over six and a half furlongs. Rohan Crichton’s Canadian-bred maiden filly Sash On (9-2), racing from in front, was just over three lengths clear at the winning post.

Williams, following up on his success in race seven, secured his two-timer with Perfect Brew (2-1). Declared by Richard Azan, it was a three-length win at the end of the six-and-a-half-furlong gallop.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Errol Burke for the almost 10-length romp of Princess Ifiyah in a career-best effort by the five-year-old mare. The Best Winning Gallop came from the hooves of Miss Braeton. The little filly had several challenges for the early ascendancy but still maintained enough momentum at the end to deny the strong finish of her chief rival. The skill set of Williams is deserving of the Jockeyship Award.

Youville Pinnock winning aboard Princess Ifiyah. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Demar Williams aboard Perfect Brew (Photo: Naphtali Junior)