The fourth renewal of the Mouttet Mile, which deservedly dominated the talking points of the 2025 Racing Year in Jamaica, came to its fitting climax in the closing event.

The trainers’ championship, dominated by second-generation operatives, former three-time champion Anthony Nunes, and three-time titlist Jason daCosta, the current leader, had an interesting prospect.

This is whether victory in the US$300,000-sponsored event could hand Nunes a fourth crown and deny daCosta also a fourth title. With both trainers saddling fancied runners, daCosta’s lead of close to $15 million would not matter, and Mouttet Mile success for either trainer would have settled the 2025 championship decisively. The fact of the matter, it was decided in unpredictable circumstances.

In presenting Rideallday (USA) in invincible condition, 14-time champion Philip Feanny rendered such talking points irrelevant. Ridden by United States Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, the strapping three-year-old grey colt won the eight-furlong gallop by nine lengths for owners Cassiopeia Racing Inc to claim the $24.9-million first prize and victory number eight in 10 starts.

With Nunes’ Mouttet Mile entries, Tiz Tok (USA) and Nautical Star (USA), trailing in seventh and ninth of 15 starters, respectively, and DaCosta’s Funcaandun (USA), last year’s winner, in third for $4 million, daCosta’s lead was also bolstered on the day with successes for Rani Bangala and Brenda Boy accumulating another $1.26 million between them.

The day’s opener, over six furlongs on the programme of 11 races, went to 2-1 favourite
Good Conscience (Richard Henry) by nearly three lengths for trainer Robert Pearson.

Then The Soul Warrior (Roger Hewitt), winner of race two, was neglected to the tune of 99/1 in the betting, but prevailed in the final stride to win the six-and-a-half gallop by a nose to the surprise of the connections, including trainer Donovan Russell.

Trained by daCosta, Robert Halledeen’s mount, US-bred Fred The Master (USA), and a 6-5 bet was four and a half lengths in front at the end of the seven-furlong run of race three. However, the number was taken down for intimidation of, and interference with, chief rival Nuclear Jet (1-1) four furlongs out, and the race was awarded to Linguist (2/1), for the first of two wins by former champion Dane Nelson and for trainer Anthony Nunes to open a double as well.

The progressive form of the Barrington Bernard-conditioned Don Kwesi (4-5) continued in style with a dominant frontrunning effort to win race four by nine lengths over the seven-furlong gallop, with apprentice Demar Williams the declared rider.

Forty minutes later, for the first of a double, race five — run at six and a half furlongs — went by just over two lengths to daCosta’s Rani Bangala, a 6-1 choice with Tevin Foster astride.

Race six over seven furlongs was a 12-length romp for Diesel Train (1-1) with Ismael Velasquez riding for the stable of Peter-John Parsard.

Champion and 2025-designate Raddesh Roman, for the first of his double success, rode Blue Vinyl (4-1) to a four-length victory over the extended circular nine-furlong course for trainer Gary Subratie to win race seven. Nelson closed his double aboard Wicked Cassie (9-5), with the US-bred, four-year-old filly coasting home eight lengths clear in the seven-furlong eighth event.

DaCosta had the double success of his stable confirmed in race nine, contested over six and a half furlongs, with hard-knocking Brenda Boy (2-1) scoring by a margin of two and a half lengths.

The Nunes stable two-timer and Roman’s riding double was confirmed by US importee Of A Revolution (9-5) with a two and a half lengths local-winning debut over six and a half furlongs.

The Training Feat Award is given to trainer Donovan Russell for the performance of The Soul Warrior, whose combined arrears in 10 of 16 starts this season amounted to 176 lengths. However, it delivered the Best Winning Gallop with the assistance of the energetic and athletic Roger Hewitt to prevail by the smallest margin of a nose for him to take the Jockeyship Award.

Don Kwesi easily winning with Demar Williams aboard. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)