With a four-timer secured 24 hours earlier on day one of the Heroes’ Weekend Carnival of Racing, 2024 champion and 2025 designate Raddesh Roman with 106 winners, a tally of 45 more than second-placed Robert Halledeen, won the opening event on day two with Patrick Lynch’s Jack Daniel (3-5).

This favourite just prevailed by a head in the final strides after a final-furlong battle with 8-1 shot, front-running Xylophonic Steel (Paul Francis) for Lynch’s first of two on the day.

Race two, run at five furlongs round and restricted to foals of 2024, was won by Midnight Traveller (10-1) to give reinsman Robert Halledeen the opener of triple success and the first of four for champion and leading conditioner Jason DaCosta on the day.

Tigray Express (4-5), a two-length winner of the third event over five furlongs round, was saddled by former jockey Phillip Elliott to confirm the second of Roman’s two successes.

Reyan Lewis, the 2023 champion, rode his 31st winner of the season astride Big Guy In The Sky (2-5) declared by Norman Smith for the four-furlong dash of race four. For Lewis, called “Action Pack” by announcer Kevin Burnside, was on mount number 174 this season. For a rider of above-average ability, this ratio can be improved, and it will be interesting to see what happens in the next season.

For second-generation trainer Michael Marlowe, career win number 99 was Slam Sharp (3-2), ridden by former two-time champion Shane Ellis to score by over ten lengths in race five, run at six furlongs.

Race six, over five and a half furlongs, went by three parts of a length to 48-1 shot Mineola (Clive Lynch), and was DaCosta’s second of the four stable successes on the day.

It was the DaCosta/Halledeen partnership that returned to the winners’ enclosure at the end of the seven-furlong contest that was race seven. H Two O (USA) ran on very well to prevail by half a length over Don Kwesi (16-1, ridden by leading apprentice Demar Williams.

Veteran Paul Francis made his experience matter in race eight over the five-and-a-half furlong course in delivering a well-timed effort aboard Loyal Action (7-2), saddled by Patrick Lynch, to close his stable double in scoring by a length and a half.

In race nine, an Overnight Allowance event, the presence in the line-up of four-year-old US-bred Dothraki (7-5), a winner there, making its local debut, had implications for an invitation to the Mouttet Mile on the first Saturday in December.

However, returning from a lay-off, the hugely talented three-year colt Incredible Jo (USA), based on a near-15-length strong canter in a time of 1:23.4 over seven furlongs on May 24, when last seen, was installed favourite at 4-5.

Incredible Jo was very uncooperative and held up the start with his many refusals to enter the starting gate. Although he exercised very well in his preparation gallops, to experienced eyes he did not quite look like the horse seen in May. On the other hand, four-year-old colt Dothraki (USA), who had also galloped spectacularly at exercise, was able to deny
Incredible Jo (USA) the lead.

Ridden by Halledeen for his third win and DaCosta’s fourth, Dothraki (USA) made virtually all to score by just over a length over useful filly Digital One (USA), stopping the clock in 1:05.4 at the end of the five-and-a-half-furlong sprint.

This was an impressive beginning by Dothraki, toting 126lb. Interesting times are ahead.

The Training Feat Award is presented to DaCosta for his spectacular four-timer, which included the Best Winning Gallop by Dothraki (USA). Halledeen takes the Jockeyship Award for his three-timer, which required the range of his skill set to execute the assignments successfully.

Jockey Clive Lynch aboard Mineola. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Jockey Reyan Lewis celebrates his win aboard Big Guy In The Sky. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)