TWO HORSES CLAIMED

The top two horses from the second event will be under new orders when next at the races. Winner Blood Song goes to trainer Tensang Chung for owner Rohan Gordon from the barn of Anthony Nunes, while runner-up Inspired Miracle was claimed from Jason DaCosta by Gary Crawford for himself. Both were tagged for $550,000.

EQUIPMENT CHANGE THE DIFFERENCE FOR

If ever there was a time for Print Quality and Tiger Bella to release their maiden tags, it was on their seasonal bow as both produced high-quality performances to open and close the nine-race card at upsetting odds, after a change of equipment.

The Patrick Lynch-conditioned Print Quality, running with the figure-8 on for the first time, blew away a four-year-old and upwards field in the day’s first event, with an effortless three-length win over 7-1/2 furlongs (1,500m).

Ridden by Robert Halledeen, the 7-1 shot Print Quality (Casual Trick – She Can Preach) was kept off the early fractions set by favourite Premier Identity (Aaron Chatrie), who had Call The Emperor (Kawise Gentle) and Blue Persuasion (Tevin Foster) for company.

By the time the leaders flashed past the five-furlong mark, Print Quality broke through the pack and quickly opened a gap, leaving the half-mile while still under a canter. All that was left for Halledeen to do when they turned for home was to keep Print Quality straight and true, and that he did. Asurety (Bebeto Harvey) closed for second ahead of Premier Identity. Print Quality stopped the clock in 1:38.2, behind splits of 25.1, 50.2, and 1:15.4.

Meanwhile, Donovan Plummer’s Tiger Bella, with the figure-8 back on, left it late to collar rivals in a five-year-old and upwards dash at 5-furlong straight (1,000m).

Partnered with Phillip Parchment, Tiger Bella at odds of 35-1, came with a storming run under the stand fence to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:03.3, behind splits of 23.2 and 47.1 seconds. Sensational Storm (Aaron Chatrie), Absolute Blue (Marshall Porter), and Jungle Cat (Reyan Lewis), completed the frame.

LOVE DUB, GARY SUBRATIE’S FIRST WIN FOR 2023

While rivals Anthony Nunes and Jason DaCosta have left the blocks in impressive fashion, signalling what should be another riveting battle for top trainers’ honours, Gary Subratie has not enjoyed similar fortunes in the win bracket.

Subratie only got off the mark when his charge Love Dub created a mild upset in a Restricted Allowance four-year-old and upwards call for fillies and mares over 5-furlong straight (1,000m).

Though not best suited for the trip, the 6-1 shot Love Dub (Sensational Slam – Iamallaboutthebest), with champion jockey Dane Dawkins in the saddle, left the gates cleanly but was hustled into her running early to stay close to her more fancied rivals.

After speedsters Airstream (Aaron Chatrie), Berlino’s Choice (Javaniel Patterson), and favourite Gracefully Made (Reyan Lewis) cancelled out themselves on the headline, Love Dub utilised her late turn of foot to collar the tiring sprinters at the furlong pole.

The Norman Reid and Stanley Walker-owned filly won by three lengths in 1:01.2, behind splits of 24.1 and 47.1 seconds. Wowtastic (Tevin Foster) closed for second ahead of North London (Matthew Bennett) and Gracefully Made.

With the first win in the bag, expectations are high that things will pick up for the second-generation trainer as the season progresses, as he certainly has the quality within his stable to do so.

RUM WITH ME DELIVERS FOR GEDDES OFF THE CLAIM

After rarely making it to the winners’ enclosure last year, apprentice Ramon Nepare is gradually becoming a regular in that circle as he produced another telling ride aboard the Fernando Geddes-conditioned Rum With Me, who delivered in style off the claim.

By virtue of topping a three-year-old and upwards high-claiming event over 61/2 furlongs (1,300m), Rum With Me, who gifted Geddes his first win of the year and Nepare his third, was also registering a win for the first time in 10 months and only the fifth of his 33-race career.

Geddes claimed Rum With Me from trainer Patrick Lynch for $750,000 on December 27, with very little form to recommend but found the winning formula in a matter of weeks, pushing the six-year-old bay horse back up the claiming ladder.

Sent off at 9-1, Rum With Me (Casual Trick –Zacapa) was early from the number-eight draw, hooking up with Turnonthelight (Tevin Foster) and Sheboom (Jordan Barrett) as they trailed Bugatti (Phillip Parchment) on the lead going past the five-furlong point.

Nepare made his intentions clear with Rum With Me leaving the half-mile and quickly flashed past Bugatti at the three-furlong mark before opening up in an all-out stretch run drive.

That move left the others battling for the minor placing as Rum With Me ran away to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of the fast-finishing pair of Azaria (Roger Hewitt) and Versatile Vision (Paul Francis). Turnonthelight completed the frame.

They covered the distance in a flat 1:22.0 after splits of 24.0, 47.3 and 1:13.3.

— Sherdon Cowan