The appropriately titled Reggae Month Trophy over the straight course was featured on the programme of 10 races.

A three-time winner in the United States and on his local debut, seven-year-old Nautical Star (USA), conditioned by Anthony Nunes, was duly installed favourite at odds of 3-5. Broadsided at the start by the horse drawn alongside to his left, the big American struggled with early under his correct impost of 126lbs.

Running with/into a wind of approximately 30-mph Mighty Gully (7-2) set the fractions, pursued by
Zulu Warrior (9-2). With the first four furlongs completed in 45.1 seconds, it was clear that Of A Revolution (USA), only in third, was under pressure, but not so Money Market, whose late surge was one and a half lengths clear of Mighty Gully at the line to stop the clock at 57.2 seconds.

Robert Halledeen, on his 15th mount of the season, guided champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s maiden colt London Spirit home by four and a half lengths over the seven furlongs of the day’s opening event.

Things got better for the popular reinsman, “Hard Ball” to his fans, when the strong finish of Whizz Kidd (67-1), entered by Alford Brown, won the nightcap by a head at the end of a seven-furlong gallop. Obviously, nearly all his supporters did not see this possibility at all.

In race two, veteran rider Ian Spence virtually toyed with the five rivals of his mount, 3-5 bet
Amazing Force (USA), a winner by four lengths over seven furlongs. Declared by former three-time titlist Anthony Nunes, this was the first of a double on the day for his well-populated stable.

As the bizarre and counterproductive over-matching of horses continues unabated, 2-5 favourite,
Rum With Me, saddled by owner/trainer Peter-John Parsard with Bebeto Harvey astride, won the straight gallop of race three by six lengths.

Race four, over the straight, went to Uncaptured Empress (USA) at odds of 10-1 with claimer Tajay Suckoo executing the riding honours to score by one and a half lengths, confirming the double success of Nunes.

Race five, also run on the straight gallop, had an interesting outcome with maiden Ryan Darby’s
Oh My Gosh (5-1), making all to win by just over four lengths with apprentice Demar Williams in the saddle. In 12 outings, the five-year-old maiden horse had shown very little sign of competitive ability.

Apprentice Shaheem Gordon persuaded Spragga (4-1) to hold on to a lead gained four furlongs out to last home by a neck over the seven furlongs of race six. Trainer Leroy Tomlinson must have been very relieved as the five-year-old by horse had been competitive with consecutive second-place finishes in its last two runs.

At the end of race seven, run over a mile, trainer Edward Stanberry savoured his first trip to the winners’ enclosure this season with Pretty Brown Ting (2-1), ridden by Shavon Townsend for a near two-length margin of victory.

In race eight, the 2019 champion rider, Christopher Mamdeen, established an early advantage with the Ian Roberts-owned and trained Hail The Queen (4-1). The five-year-old chestnut mare ran very well inside the last furlong to score by just over three lengths at the end of the five-and-a-half-furlong exertion.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Ryan Darby for the performance of Oh My Gosh, whose accumulated arrears over the 12 previous starts exceeded 220 lengths. Spragga delivered the Best Winning Gallop as it required speed, courage, and stamina combined with the full skill set of Shaheen Gordon, displaying judgement of pace, composure, and correct use of his whip to gain the Jockeyship Award.

Jockey Shaheem Gordon gestures as he guides Spragga into the winners’ enclosure. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Trainer Leroy Tomlinson is all smiles after the success of Spragga in the sixth race. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)