Second-generation trainer Gary Crawford opened his seasonal account in the day’s opener. Tiffany Blu (7-2), a five-year-old mare whose second career success came in November 2024, was ridden from off the pace by two-time champion Raddesh Roman (2024-25) to score by two and a half lengths in the six-furlong event, restricted to five-year-olds and upwards.

The popular reinsman’s fan club enjoyed another moment when he had his second aboard Richard Azan’s three-year-old maiden colt, Senor Biscotti (3-5), who scored by nearly two lengths over the six and a half furlongs of the condition event. Whilst half an hour earlier in race two, three-time champion Jason DaCosta saddled the first to finish at the end of the seven-and-a-half furlongs of race three. Partnered by Tevin Foster, Prince Roy (9-5) prevailed by just over two lengths ahead of the Anthony Allen-ridden Star Quest (5-1) for the opener of a DaCosta stable double.

Perennial top ten conditioner Gary Subratie declared US-bred Thousand Treasures (9-1) in the seven-furlong race four for a tag of $1.0 million. Dane Dawkins, the 2022 titlist, guided the four-year imported colt to a winning margin of just under five lengths.This winner may have been a promising claim, but surprisingly, there were no takers, and instead, Here Come Doc and The Real Identity will change stables for their million-dollar tags.

Race five, a maiden condition run at five furlongs straight and restricted to horses four years and older, went to 8-1 shot Total Velocity, ridden by claimer Jaheim Anderson for veteran trainer Nieve Graham. This filly, a progeny of stallion Patton Proud, was behind by a total of 278 lengths in nine of the last 10 of a 12-race career, including unseating her rider on one occasion, arrived at the stable of Graham last November and started for the first time since.

Prince Marshall (5-1) gave second-generation trainer Ryan Darby his third success from 19 declarations this month as apprentice Richie Shakes had to pull out all the stops for the win by just over one length in the six-furlong race six. Meanwhile, US-import Prodigious Power (2-5) cantered to a five-length winning margin over three rivals for former three-time champion Andrew Nunes. Long-serving jockey Ian Spence was in charge of the reins over the six-and-a-half furlongs of the uneventful race seven.

Pack Plays (USA), conditioned into top sprinting form by Rohan Mathie, outsped 3-5 bet Of ARevolution (Raddesh Roman) to skate home by almost three lengths in the featured six and a half furlong Eileen Cliggot Memorial Trophy (Grade 1) run as race eight. Christopher Mamdeen, the 2019 champion, utilising his above-average judgement of pace, kept the American five-year-old progeny of
Stay Clear safely ahead of rivals throughout the distance.

The secondary attraction, Bonnie Blue Trophy, run at seven and a half furlongs, was won by
Oil Machine (10-1), with former six-time champion Omar Walker executing the riding honours smartly enough for the Philip Elliot stable-entry to be a length and a half in front of the nearest of nine rivals at the business end of the seven and a half furlong gallop. In the 10th and closing event, Robert Halledeen kept US-bred maiden Roman Lady (3-2) in front of 12 rivals to edge home by a neck to confirm the closing leg of the DaCosta stable double.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Nieve Graham for the performance of Total Velocity, who showed only minimal signs of ability before today’s successful run. The Best Winning Gallop was delivered by Oil Machine in a display of speed, stamina, and courage,with the skills of Omar Walker recognised for the Jockeyship Award.

Dane Dawkins winning aboard Thousand Treasure. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)