JOCKEY Raddesh “Sneaky Fox” Roman believes Nautical Star is far from hitting his peak, even after guiding the Anthony “Baba” Nunes trainer to a dominant 3½-length win in the Labour Day Trophy on Monday, May 25, 2026.

“I was not impressed with the performance, as well as the trainer. We just have to maybe go back to the drawing board and try to get him to his peak,” Roman said after the race.

Nautical Star, a six-year-old dark bay horse bred by Dixie Chatter out the Evansville Slew mare Kiss Me Chocolate, came from behind runners to win the Overnight Allowance contest over seven furlongs (1,400m) in a time of 1:25.1 (23.1 x 46.2 x 1:11.3), putting the field away with ease.

But for Roman, the win didn’t match the horse’s ability.

“This horse is a very talented horse. All I was trying to do was to get a clean break, position, him, and ask him to run the last three furlongs,” he explained.

Roman is convinced there’s more to come from Nautical Star.

“I think he is one of the best horses in Jamaica and he would have put these away easily,” Roman said.

Nautical Star wasn’t the sharpest out of the starting gates at the off, but he raced in mid-pack down the backstretch as American Aviator, ridden by Tevin Foster, set the pace ahead of Unruly Mo with Emelio McLean and Supremasi with Omar Walker.

Nautical Star stayed off the pace until the half-mile (800m) turn, where Roman moved him alongside Unruly Mo and Supremasi in pursuit of the speedy American Aviator. Once the momentum shifted, Nautical Star joined American Aviator shortly after turning for home and quickly drew away for an easy win.

It was his second from three starts on local soil for Nautical Star.

American Aviator finished second, while Mark My Identity (Dane Dawkins) finished in third place.

Groom Steven Smith leads Nautical Star (Raddesh Roman) into the winners’ enclosure after winning the Labour Day Trophy on Monday, May 25, 2026.(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Nautical Star, with Raddesh Roman in the irons, enters the racetrack for the Labour Day Trophy contest on Monday, May 25. 2026. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)