Second-generation trainer Ryan Darby had the first of two visits to the winners’ enclosure with the 3-1 bet Donalmighty (Paul Francis) finishing best of 12 to be two lengths clear at the end of the five and a half furlong opener. Following the sixth event, run at seven furlongs, Darby returned to the hallowed space for the formalities. Green Gold Rush (4-1) responded to jockey Tevin Foster to score by just over two lengths at the end of seven furlongs.

Race two, a five and a half furlong gallop, went to Little Grovy Thing (6-5). The little seven-year-old mare, bred in the USA but foaled in Jamaica, was a game winner, scoring by a half a length with the former six-time champion Omar Walker, back from distributing care packages to Hurricane Melissa-affected residents in St Elizabeth, executing the riding honours for trainer Norman Smith.

Javaniel Patterson, a member of the growing cohort of riders plying their profession seasonally, in the US and Canada as well, needed to be at his best to secure race three for owner/trainer Carlton Cunningham. Global Machine(6-1) ran gamely inside the last 100 yards to be ahead by a half a length when the winning post brought the five-and-a-half furlong exertion to an end.

Dane Dawkins, the 2022 champion jockey, sat motionless aboard the Peter-John Parsard conditioned four-year-old maiden filly Lucy On The Go (1-2) as she cantered home by over the four-furlong straight dash by all of nine lengths. Whilst in race five, run at five furlongs straight, debutant three-year-old maiden colt Formalist, schooled by Jason Dacosta, impressed with a victory of over six lengths. Jockey Robert Halledeen executed this assignment with an economy of effort.
Formalist could show progressive form and may very well be effective over longer trips.

Trainer Alford Brown presented the 17-race 2-1 bet maiden Princess Kris (USA) in invincible form to win the day’s eight-furlong seventh race by over five lengths with the 2019 champion jockey Christopher Mamdeen at the reins. Former champions Anthony Thomas and Wesley Henry are riding in Florida, but with Shane Ellis, the unusual cohort of the six titlists over the last decade continues to entertain the fans.

On a day when former champions, Walker, Dawkins, and Mamdeen enjoyed success, the current and 2026 designate Raddesh Roman, with 113 winners to date this season, was not to be outdone. The crowd-pleasing reinsman made his huge fan club ecstatic with an excellent tactical performance aboard
Shooting Star (USA).

Saddled by Adrian Prince for the first of a stable double, and starting at odds of 3-1, was in the early pace but yielded the advantage to be fifth three furlongs out. Waiting for a run to exploit any opening on the inner rails was tactically sound, as this was realised in the upper straight. Roman delayed Shooting Star’s (USA) successful challenge until 50 yards and secured victory by half a length.

The game, genuine, and consistent four-year colt Zulu Warrior (3-1), ridden by Tyrese Anderson, won the gallop for the closing six-furlong event to secure the Prince stable double. The event was featured on the nine-race programmes, another renewal of the United Racehorse Trainers Association of Jamaica Trophy.

The Training Feat Award goes to Ryan Darby for presenting two ageing campaigners, Donalmighty and
Green Gold Rush, who are difficult to train for sundry reasons, in winning form. The Best Winning Gallop was delivered by Shooting Star (USA). The execution of his skill set on this mount earns Roman the Jockeyship Award.

Trainer Ryan Drby leads his charge Don Almighty (Paul Francis) into the winners’ enclosure. (Photo: Naphatli Junior)

Chris Mamdeen winning aboard Princess Kris. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)