ON November 15, champion and leading trainer Jason DaCosta gave a belated debut to Formalist, a three-year-oldchestnut colt who cantered in by just over six lengths over five and a half furlongs. The opening event on today’s programme, run at five and a half furlongs,was another opportunity for DaCosta to showcase a smart-looking filly. Starraura (1-5) strode over the five-and-half-furlong gallop to an 11-length victory, with Robert Halledeen aboard for the first of this trainer/jockey double.

Based on the moderate cohort of three-year-olds struggling for 11 months to escape the non-winners of two races category for three-year-olds, I am predicting that, given normal improvement, both Formalist and Starraura will succeed and progress to the non-winners of three options in the short term, without much resistance.

The first of a stable double came in race two for the former three-time titlist Anthony Nunes who engaged Dick Cardenas, the 2011 champion jockey, for the 5-2 bet Smart Trick. The Panamanian reinsman was at his best in executing the winning front-running tactic in holding the gallop over five and a half furlongs to last home by the margin of a diminishing neck, to open a riding double.

Whilst in race three, champion and 2026 designate Raddesh Roman opened a double aboard Tigray Express, winner of seven of its last eight races. Saddled by Phillip Elliot, the six-year-old bay horse won the six-and-half-furlong trip by five and a half lengths.

Meanwhile, Nunes claimed his stable double in race four with Tigeramedat (USA), bet at 1-2 and ridden by Roman, to close his double in scoring by just over two lengths when the seven-furlong trip was completed. Race five, a four-furlong straight dash, went to Barrington Bernard’s Newland Links at 2-1 with weight claimer Garvin Harris astride. The five-year-old bay horse resumed its career last September after an absence of 25 months and has now secured two victories and a second from five starts.

It was 9-1 against trainer Dale Murphy’s Bella Bella — a five-year-old chestnut mare bred in the USA and foaled locally — but under a good ride from leading apprentice Demar Williams it won the six-and-half-furlong contest of race five by a half-length over 3-5 favourite The Real Identity, ridden by Roman.

Owner-trainer Oral Hayden presented Midnight Galaxy (9-5) with superior form and the four-year-old grey colt, a progeny of Midnight Hawk, was always in control of the pace to score by over six lengths, with former two-time champion Shane Ellis mostly motionless throughout the seven-and-half-furlong gallop of race six. In this event, Freedom Street(9-1) from the DaCosta stable refused to race for the fifth-consecutive time.

Once again, Byron Davis prepared Mark My Identity(4-5) in improved condition and the three-year-old colt, sired by Bern Identity, was three and a half lengths clear at the end of the seven and a half furlongs of race eight. Ridden by 2022 champion Dane Dawkins, Mark My Identity has now won its last three races under the guidance of this talented and articulate reinsman.

The featured divided Racehorse Aftercare Trophy, restricted to non-winners of Overnight Allowance, was staged as races nine and 10, respectively. In Division One Mighty Gully(8-5), a winner of two of her last three races, continues to show progressive form in delivering a nine-length runaway over the five-furlong straight course for trainer Richard Azan, closing the double riding feat for Cardenas.

The DaCosta/Halledeen collaboration returned to the winners’ enclosure in Division Two of the feature, with Prince Amaan (2-1) just a short head better than 4-5 bet Charming Bubbler(USA) over the straight course to confirm the partnership’s double success.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Barrington Bernard for his patience, which has been rewarded with the performances of Newland Links. The Best Winning Gallop Award goes to Prince Amman for speed and courage in defeating Charming Bubbler (USA), a significantly higher-rated opponent. Demar Williams gets the Jockeyship Award for his judgment of pace, balance, and athleticism to claim victory on Bella Bella.

Dane Dawkins guides Mark My Identity to victory. Karl Mclarty

Bella Bella (Demar Williams) gets the better of The Real Identity (Raddesh Roman). Karl Mclarty