THE featured eight-furlong Viceroy Trophy was staged as race seven and, as expected, went to 1-2 favourite Supernatural Power (USA).

Returning from her fourth-place finish in the Gold Cup a fortnight ago when she was slowly into stride and was fourth by just over one length, the progressive three-year-old filly led from five furlongs out and won by two lengths over chief rival
Tiz Tok (USA).

In post-race interviews 2011 champion jockey Dick Cardenas indicated that his only concern was to ensure Supernatural Power made no mistake at the start.

Former 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny revealed he expected her to win the seven-furlong Gold Cup. Also, this race was a preparation exercise for the 2025 Mouttet Mile on December 6, and there is no further opportunity so Supernatural Power will appear in this big event next.

Hijo Primero, a 75/1 bet, won the opening event under an accomplished ride from promising claiming apprentice Jaheim Anderson; he scored by a length over the seven-furlong trip. Conditioned by Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment race analyst Michael Cain, Hijo Primero, a seven-year-old bay horse with two starts this season, was having only his third outing since August 2023. He looked well in the post parade and performed accordingly.

In race two, a condition race restricted to three-year-old fillies, Sparkling Fire dominated from the early fractions and was never threatened to provide claimer Richie Shakes with the first of three wins on the day.

Saddled by Omar Williams, Sparkling Fire, a medium-size filly and a progeny of the hugely successful stallion Bern Notice, won the five-furlong sprint over the round course by three and a half lengths at odds of 3-2.

In tandem with 2022 champion jockey Dane Dawkins, former three-time champion trainer Anthony Nunes saddled the winners of races three and four. Easy Money (1-2) led inside the final furlong of race three and prevailed by a head over
All Together (6-5).

In the fourth, the Heroes’ Day Stakes Trophy, 2024 Jamaica Derby winner Crown Chaser (3-5) was a near two-length winner to secure his second success from four starts this season.

Richie Shakes confirmed his second success on the programme of 10 races, with Bobbytwobad (5-2), owned and trained by Robert Ffrench, winning the six-furlong fifth event by over five lengths.

Presented in unbeatable condition by trainer Edward Stanberry, five-year-old mare and 8-1 backed Empressinthebreeze, well ridden by Natalie Berger, relished the sloppy underfoot conditions and won by just under two lengths.

In the provably failed claiming and condition system format, in which there is an artificial division of horse population into 19 categories, the overmatching of horses creating huge numbers of odds-on favourites is the dominant feature.

The 2024 calendar of 755 races with a record 389 odds-on favourites contributed to a 2024 financial statement confirming a loss of $385 million on operations by promoting company Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment Limited.

Presented with such a gift, second-generation trainer Adrian Prince, for the first of his two winners, made sure 2-5 favourite Whisky was in the kind of form to accept it on behalf of owners O & S Racers. Guided by claimer Tyrese Anderson, Whisky, the easy winner of its last two races, was always dominant and scored by 12 lengths over the five-and-a-half-furlong trip.

Saddled by Marlon Pusey and offering an opportunity for a third win on the card, Richie Shakes was at his best over the six and a half furlongs of race nine aboard Natural Dancer (2-1). In a field where there was no margin for error she was in front immediately. Natural Dancer was kept on the bridle until asked for the final sprint 300 yards from the finish. She ran well under pressure inside the last furlong to be adjudged the first to finish, but with only the margin of a nose to spare.

In the closing event, run at a distance of five furlongs round, 9/5 favourite James closed the Adrian Prince stable double in good style, with champion Raddesh Roman guiding the five-year-old bay horse to a near five-length success.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Edward Stanberry for the performance of Empressinthebreeze who beat winners as a 24-race maiden and returned to frank the form with today’s effort. The Best Winning gallop was executed by Natural Dancer in a run that required speed, stamina and courage for success, with the skills of Shakes elevating him to worthiness of the Jockeyship Award.

Whisky (Tyrese Anderson) runs out an easy winner. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)