The 2026 renewal of the five-and-a-half-furlong Omar Walker Trophy for the Overnight Allowance campaigners was the featured event on a programme of nine races and staged in honour of the former six-time champion reinsman who reigned from 2007 to 2010 and was the titlist again for 2016-17. Incidentally, in the intervening years between 2010 and 2016, it was Dick Cardenas (2011), Dane Nelson (2012-14), and Shane Ellis (2015).

In a field where She’s That Girl (4-5), saddled by third-generation trainer Steven Todd, was the controlling and significantly superior speed, it was therefore predictable that the pacy filly would be the bestfrom early and clear at the finish. The winning margin of six-and-a-half lengths would be wider if apprentice Tajay Sukoo, on his fourth winner over the last 24 hours, had not relaxed his grip on the reins 110 yards out.

In the day’s opener, Hit N Run, the 8-5 favourite was always in the front rank and held on to score by a half-a-length at the end of the seven-furlong gallop. The fans of apprentice Richie Shakes were left elated, with some justification, as he deployed the full range of his skill set to meet trainer Norman Smith in the winners’ enclosure.

We Jammin (3-5), the 2025 hero of the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes, schooled by third-generation conditioner Peter-John Parsard, although beaten eight-and-a-half lengths by Jason Dacosta’s progressive US-bred four-year-old American Aviator (Tevin Foster) over the seven furlongs of race two, has definitely trained on and still maintains favouritism for his upcoming second season Futurities.

On his seventh mount of the season, apprentice Richard Henry, in opening his seasonal account aboard the Donovan Clarke-owned-and-trained entry Noble Monarch (7-2), must be hoping to get similar opportunities, as the five-year-old chestnut horse led, was unchallenged, and at the end of the six furlongs of race three, he was nearly four lengths clear.

In race four, run at seven-and-a-half furlongs, second-generation horseman Ryan Darby saddled the first of three winners on the card with Eazy Peazy (3-1), ridden to a victory margin of just over six lengths by 2025 champion apprentice Demar Williams. Interestingly, the six-year-old bay horse, a progeny of Casual Trick, has now won four of his last eight races for different trainers.

Ryan Darby’s possible rare owner/trainer three-timer was on pause for race five, over the straight course, as DreamTo Reality (8-5), declared by Saqlain Roman, controlled the pace and scored by just under five lengths. Dane Dawkins, the 2022 champion jockey, was aboard the well-built five-year-old
Sensational Slam-bred horse.

However, the Darby owner/trainer showcase resumed in race six as 1-2 bet Sudden Flight, partnered by Roshaune Lewis, sped to a three-length advantage over the three-and-a-half-furlong dash. Lewis, the brother of 2023 champion Reyan, did win two of the JRC Riding School apprentice events, but this is the first in his career proper. The best day in a long time for the Darby outfit was accomplished in some style with All Together (Paul Francis) at odds of 2-1, outsprinting five rivals by three-and-a-half lengths over the five-furlong straight course of race seven.

As the contenders for the lucrative preparation races and the Classics stake their respective claims, the result of race eight may prove to be significant in these futurities. Schooled by Peter-John Parsard, debutant Manoletti Majesty (1-2), a well-conformed, far-striding chestnut colt, apart from jumping out to the right, did nothing else wrong and won the four-furlong straight gallop by over seven lengths with Reyan Lewis teaching the big colt how to respond to a jockey’s instructions.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Donovan Clarke for the performance of Noble Monarch, whose best races of his 13 previous starts were over distances short of six furlongs. The Best Winning Gallop was executed by Hit N Run with Richie Shakes taking the Jockeyship Award for yet another performance that top riders of much more experience would admire without reservation.

Tajay Suckoo winning aboard She’s That Girl. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)