RADDESH Roman is not ready to give up his crown.

Entering the November 7 race meet last week, Tevin Foster looked like he had the 2026 Jockeys’ Championship all but wrapped up. He sat on 89 winners, a commanding 12 clear of his closest rival and two-time defending champion Roman on 77. By the end of the weekend, that lead had been cut, stretched, cut again, and stretched again.

And when the dust settled on November 8, Foster was still on top, but Roman had made it very clear he is not going away quietly.

Saturday belonged to Roman as he came out firing, booting home three winners on the day to move to 80. He won aboard Unruly Don for owner/trainer Oral Hayden, Legacy Isle for trainer Rohan Crichton, and dead-heated aboard the Anthony Nunes-trained Walk The Plank with Giving Thanks. Foster could only manage one winner in Runaway Star for champion trainer Jason DaCosta, moving to 90.

In the space of one afternoon, a 12-win lead was suddenly down to 10, and the noise around Caymanas Park changed. The crowd could feel it. The championship was alive again.

Sunday started the same way. Roman struck early, winning the second race aboard Sonny T and Chippy. That was 81 and the gap was down to nine. For the first time in weeks, it felt like Foster was looking over his shoulder.

Foster, who had been quiet for most of the weekend, saved his best for last. He won the last two races on Sunday’s card — Chances Are for trainer Owen Sharpe and Alkebulan for owner/trainer Carl Anderson, back to back, to move to 92 and push the lead back out to 11. It was a statement. You can come for me, but you will have to come harder than that.

The standings now read: Foster 92, Roman 81. Eleven wins apart with 10 race days to go for the remainder of the season.

But this weekend of 19 races could impact the outcome in a very big way.

When the final programmes for the Saturday-Sunday race meet came out, the numbers told their own story. Foster has been handed 15 rides on both days, while Roman has eight rides.

Foster has eight rides from the 10-race programme on Saturday and Roman has four.

Foster will ride Chedwrick Humor (1st), Sweet Victory (3rd), Awhodat (4th), Starlight Princess (5th), Fidelity (6th), Royal Maverick (7th), and Formalist (10th).

Roman has the leg up on Crown Court (1st), Salute The Don (7th), and Diesel Train (10th).

On Sunday, Foster has seven rides – Battle Angel (1st), Cloud Chaser (2nd), Speed on Wheels (3rd), Whisky (4th), Miss Jungle Jen (5th), Summer Palace (7th), and Chief Dissident (8th). Roman will ride Bob The Builder (4th), Apricots Treasure (5th), Never Despair (7th), and
Main Mistress (9th).

It is a massive advantage for the leader, and everyone in the racing fraternity knows it. Fifteen chances over the weekend to add to his tally, to stretch the lead beyond reach, to put one hand on the title.

For Roman, with only eight mounts for the back-to-back race meet, there is no room for error. He has to make every single ride count. He has to be perfect. That is what makes this weekend so fascinating.