JOCKEY CHRISTOPHER MAMDEEN OPENS WITH A DOUBLE
Jockey Christopher Mamdeen started the day on fire after booting home the first two winners on the programme.
Mamdeen partnered the Junior Panton-owned and trained Sir Puddington in the first race, a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) spread which included native-bred five-year-olds and upwards (maidens) going 6 furlongs (1,200m). Mamdeen held Sir Puddington off the pace in the early exchanges before producing the seven-year-old bay gelding with a telling run-in deep stretch. Sir Puddington won by three parts of a length ahead of Mamasharondarling (Roger Hewitt) and Awesome Aviator (Dane Dawkins) in a time of 1:17.2.
Mamdeen returned in the second to score with Lala Diva, trained by Nicholas Smith, in a three-year-old and upwards Optional Claiming ($550,000-$450,000) event that included native-bred five-year-olds and upwards (non-winners of four) at 5 furlongs (1,000m) round. Lala Diva made one move to win by three parts of a length in a time of 1:01.1. Finishing second was City Counsel (Dane Dawkins) with Devonte’ (Tevin Foster) third.
TONGUE-TIE OFF, BREAKING STORM WINS
Running with the tongue-tie off, seven-year-old dark bay/brown horse Breaking Storm easily brushed aside rivals in an Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) race for three-year-old and upwards that also included native-bred six-year-old and upwards (non-winners of three) and native-bred five-year-old and upwards (maidens).
Travelling 5 furlongs round, Breaking Storm was hustled by jockey Anthony Thomas at the start and the Jason DaCosta trainee led the field around the half-mile ahead of Chitu Prince (Romario Spencer) and Galway Bay (Chalrick Budhai).
Navigating the turn, Breaking Storm opened on rivals and had a comfortable trip into the lane. With no challenger in deep stretch, Breaking Storm sprinted clear to win by 10 lengths. Kunama (Roger Hewitt) came on for second place ahead of Fiery Path (Omar Simpson) in the third spot. The final time was recorded at 1:02.0.
EIGHT HORSES CLAIMED
In the first race, Norman Smith claimed Mamasharondarling for owner Marshall Russell from Donovan Plummer, Delroy Wisdom claimed Storm Valley for owner K&A Syndicate from Michael McIntosh, Dennis Lee claimed Sir Puddington for himself from Junior Panton, and Colin Ferguson claimed Pure Heart for owner Patrick Calder from Rudolph Hardial. All horses went in the first race went for $250,000 each.
In the second race, Maurice Crooks claimed Devonte’ for himself for $550,000 from Anthony Nunes, Everal Francis claimed Lala Diva for owner Texas Crew for $550,000 from Nicholas Smith, and Gary Griffiths claimed City Counsel for owner Noril Atkins also for $550,000.
In the third race, Howard McLeod claimed Breaking Storm for owner Delroy Wellington for $200,000 from Jason DaCosta.
