In an era when thoroughbreds run less often and come back fresh off a month’s break as a matter of routine, getting one to fire first time out is no big feat.

The real trick is bringing a horse back after six months or more and watching him win on the return. That rare feat belonged to Peter-John Parsard and Never Despair at Caymanas Park on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Off the track for 16 months with a career-threatening injury, Never Despair returned to competitive racing and did it in style, easily capturing a maiden condition race over four furlongs (800m).

Under a confident ride from Jemar Jackson, Never Despair broke sharp, shrugged off the rust, and drew off by a length and a quarter in 49.4. Moonlight Song with Richie Shakes finished second, while Super Storm and Bebeto Harvey completed the frame.

For Parsard, the win was more than just another maiden broken. It was vindication for patience, faith, and time.

“He hasn’t raced in about a year and a half,” Parsard revealed.

“He was a really talented horse. We had big hopes for him for the Classics last year but unfortunately he got a really bad injury. It took us a lot of time and it took the owners a lot of patience to be able to get over the ailments that he had. Thank God he is fully healthy,” Parsard told the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide.

Never Despair (Jemar Jackson) easily wins on Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Parsard was quick to deflect praise to his jockey. Jackson hadn’t just ridden him on race day. He’d been with him through the grind.

“Credit to the jockey, he rode a good race here. But he has been working the horse diligently for about six months. I was very glad to see him able to get the job done on him,” he said.

Parsard admitted the four-year-old bay colt wasn’t fully cranked. He didn’t need to be.

“The horse ran beautifully. He was short of work and so we are hoping that he will have a little more scope and we will see what he can turn into. I was fairly confident that he was going to win the race. I knew he was going to be a little short in the end but thankfully he was able to get the job done,” Parsard noted.

Now a winner, Never Despair heads to non-winners of two. Parsard is keeping expectations grounded.

“I mean, he is what he is, he is a condition horse and so I don’t think he has a very high ceiling. But I am sure he will be able to stay sound and win a lot of races,” he stated.