IT was a moment of sweet triumph for trainer Ray Phillips as his charge Havajoy won the third race at Caymanas Park on Saturday, October 11, 2025, giving him his first winner for the season from 22 attempts.

The contest was a Restricted Allowance V event for native-bred four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two) and imported four-year-olds and upward (maidens) over 7½ furlongs (1,500m).

Havajoy, guided by jockey Chalrick Budhai, put in a strong performance to edge out Rock-Ola, ridden by Dane McKenzie, by a short head in a thrilling finish. Chesney, with Dane Dawkins in the irons, was 3¾ lengths adrift in third place. The final time for the race was 1:37.2 (24.4 x 48.4 x 1:16.0 x 1:30.1).

It was a good break for most of the runners in the eight-horse field as Havajoy was the first to show on the headline. Leaving the intersection at the seven-furlong (1,400m) marker, Rock-Ola joined Havajoy on the lead and both horses battled down the backstretch.

Entering the half-mile (800m) turn, Havajoy held the advantage and looked to march clear but Rock-Ola refused to give up and continued to apply pressure on the leader. The tension built as both horses thundered down the stretch, locked in a tight battle, and in a driving finish Havajoy edged out Rock-Ola for the win.

Havajoy’s win wasn’t immediately secure, however, as the horse and her connections had to wait while the stewards scrutinised the outcome of the race. McKenzie lodged an objection, adding tension to the moment. Only after surviving the stewards’ inquiry and overcoming the jockey’s objection could Havajoy’s team finally breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate the hard-fought victory.

Havajoy is a four-year-old chestnut filly bred by Legal Process out of the Miracle Man mare Lady Tarkari.

Trainer Ray Phillips (left) and other connections pose with Havajoy (Chalrick Budhai) after winning the third race on Saturday, October 11, 2025. (Photo: SVREL)