Dane Nelson continues good form in Canada
DANE Nelson, a former four-time Jamaica champion, continued his fine form on the international riding circuit over the weekend by winning four races and moving into a two-way tie for first place in the jockeys’ rankings at the Century Mile Racetrack in Canada.
Nelson, 37, rode a triple on Friday’s nine-race but only managed one winner on Saturday’s eight-race card to tie with José Mariano Asencio for the lead with 18 winners.
“It’s always good to win races no matter where you are. That is how people will recognise you and how you will create your brand. I’m just happy that my hard work is paying off,” Nelson said.
“I must thank the horse’s connections as well as others for their help along the way. I’ll keep working hard because that’s how you get ahead,” he continued.
Estifraad began Nelson’s triple in the second race, a CAN$13,500 Claiming event for three-year-olds and up who have never won three races over seven furlongs on the dirt track.
Nelson forced the Carson Frey-trained Estifraad to take the lead early in the race and the four-year-old bay gelding never looked back, winning by 3 3/4 lengths in a time of 1: 24.14.
Nelson took the seventh race, a CAN$19, 500 Allowance Optional Claiming going six furlongs on the dirt, aboard Bon Prix who is trained by James Wyness. Bon Prix, who led from start to finish, won by four lengths in 1:10.01.
Nelson then won the eighth a CAN$20,000 Allowance Optional Claiming race over seven furlongs on the dirt track, aboard Rocktillyoudrop who won by 2 3/4 lengths. Rocktillyoudrop, trained by Rodney Cone, won in a time of 1:24.13.
Nelson’s win on Saturday came aboard the Carson Frey-conditioned Bootiful Rose in the third race, a CAN$23,000 Allowance contest for three-year-old fillies over one mile on the dirt track. Bootiful Rose won by ¾ length in a time of 1:39.94.
Meanwhile, fellow Jamaican Linton Steadman won his first international race on Saturday aboard Manofallseason in the seventh race of the day.
Manofallseason, trained by James Wyness, won a six-and-a-half-furlong dirt event by a length and a quarter in 1:18.68. Steadman defeated fellow countryman Richard Lunan aboard Flying Sun.