Ten declarations, with three went at $350,000 claiming tag, reported to the starter at the seven-and-a-half furlong point for the opening event. Prohibitive favourite Sir Wong Don (2-5) — in a virtual match with 2-1 choice Prince Marshall, ridden by two-time champion and current season leader Raddesh Roman, and apprentice Richie Shakes, respectively — prevailed by a neck.

Sir Wong Don, trained by Adrain Prince, led immediately, and from three furlongs out, he was pursued in vain by Prince Marshall. This win in the first event was the opener of a natural double for Roman as he rode even-money favourite Flybluejet (USA) to an eight-length runaway over the five-furlong round distance of race two for trainer Carlton Cunningham.

Prince Daniel (9-1) turned out in unbeatable condition thanks to trainer Michael Caine who doubles as the promoting company’s closed-circuit television racing analyst, and won the Maiden Condition race three over the maximum straight course by nearly 15 lengths. This was the start of a remarkable four-timer by Richie Shakes who had a double 24 hours earlier and, along with Demar Williams, is one of the two most accomplished graduates of the Jamaica Racing Commission Training School Class of 2024.

In race four, Mo Aviator (5-1), representing the barn of trainer Ricardo Brown, was in front by one and a half lengths at the end of the three-and-a-half-furlong straight dash of race four. Whilst in race five, 16-1 shot
Captain Fantastic, declared by second-generation horseman Michael Marlowe for the first of a stable double and ridden by Phillip Parchment, was five and a half lengths the best when the winning post signalled the end of the five-and-half-furlong gallop.

In race six, another Maiden Condition run at six and a half furlongs, the second of the Richie Shakes remarkable four-timer was 20-1 bet Badbadtanesha, owned and trained by Robert French. This chestnut filly, a progeny of Berlino-Di-Tiger, was persuaded by Shakes to wear down and prevail by a neck over 2-1 favourite
Modern Monarch (Tevin Foster).

With two wins secured, Shakes, in going for a three-timer and with a well-timed run for a win margin of just over one length, conjured up a career-best performance out of the promoted Slam Sharp (34-1).
Slam Sharp’s success in the eight-furlong race seven was completely surprising to most but surely not trainer Michael Marlowe, who celebrated this success as much as he did his stable’s triple of three weeks ago on March 29.

To close Shakes’s high-priced, combined, 77-1 four-timer, conditioned by Fitznahum Williams, maiden three-year-old Austoa (4-1), was declared for her third career start in the Maiden Condition eighth. In this event restricted to fillies in their second season, Austoa won by just over four lengths ahead of the nearest of her 13 rivals at the end of the five-and-a-half-furlong sprint.

The ninth and closing event was another renewal of the Mabrouk Trophy over the five-furlong straight course of the Caymanas track layout. Even-money favourite Mighty Gully was always in command of the pace and scored by five lengths and a quarter, where only an economy of effort was required from jockey Tevin Foster who partnered the consistently speedy four-year-old filly for her sixth success from 18 starts.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Michael Marlowe for the improved performances of Captain Fantastic and Slam Sharp. Both won competitive races at the higher level, with the latter delivering the Best Winning Gallop. Richie Shakes’s all-time record of accumulated odds for a four-timer— executed with the appropriate assets of judgement of pace, balance, proper use of whip, and composure — is obviously an uncontested recipient of the Jockeyship Award.

Richie Shakes indicates that he has won four races. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)