RACE ONE – A come-from-behind win for Buff Bay trained by Rowan Mathie with jockey Dick Cardenas making full use of an inside run in the straight to earn another victory. The two favourites in the race Heavenly Glitter (9-5), and Sensational Ending (6-5), finished fifth and fourth respectively. This was Buff Bay’s third winning effort from 26 starts and the sixth in 2022 for Mathie.
RACE TWO – It did not take long for Mathie to register his seventh win as King Antholew (Dane Dawkins) was a lonely winner. This victory by King Atholew also closed a double for the owners’ syndicate of DSTL and Associates.
RACE THREE – The flagship season of trainer Gary Griffiths continued with the facile win by Regal and Royal ridden by Oshane Nugent. For Griffiths, it was his eleventh trip to the winners’ enclosure in 2022, while it was a welcome return to winning ways by Nugent. When Nugent started his riding career about two years ago, he was the dominant apprentice, yet of late he is struggling to get the rides resulting in fewer winners. King Antholew provided him with his sixth win this year.
RACE FOUR – This Overnight event at five furlongs straight was decimated by the late withdrawal of three of the eight horses. Thankfully those withdrawals did not take away the competitiveness, as Make Up Artist (Anthony Thomas) and Capturemyship (Dick Cardenas) engaged in a parching confrontation from the start. Capturemyship led for most of the way with Make Up Artist challenging resolutely. Make Up Artist went by with a furlong to go as Capturemyship rallied only to be denied by a nose. Make Up Artist, the victim of an accident while being transported to sea was racing for the first occasion since November 13, 2021.
RACE FIVE – Ha Gow Siu Mei propulsion in the final furlong (five furlongs – straight) was spectacular as he went on to win this three-year-old maiden event (5 furlongs straight) by close to six lengths. Ha Gow Siu Mei effort was particularly pleasing for trainer Anthony Nunes as the bay colt had to undergo surgery earlier in the year, racing for the first time in 210 days.
RACE SIX – The recent form of jockey Roger Hewitt continued when he dug deep to drive the Donovan Plummer-trained Nex Perce to victory. Nez Perce was Hewitt’s 15th win this term.
RACE SEVEN – Of late trainer, Anthony Nunes has been dominating the maiden three-year-old grouping. That domination continued as after the win in the fifth by Ha Gow Siu Mei, the champion trained watched as G T Boy (Reyan Lewis) produced the goods, winning by 2 ½ lengths. Win number two on the day for Nunes.
RACE EIGHT – The Derby Day longshot was Persistent One at 29-1. She brought victory number two on the day for trainer Donovan Plummer who has now saddled 13 winners thus far in 2022. For winner rider Samantha Fletcher it was her ninth this season.
RACE NINE – The Jamaica Derby will be the subject of several additional articles.
RACE TEN – Finally, finally, finally Perfect Brew (Anthony Thomas) is a winner as a three-year-old. Rated as one of the better two-year-olds of last year, Perfect Brew raced six times at three before he was able to find the winning post in front, fighting hard to withstand the challenge of the slow-starting foreigner Real Boss (Dick Cardenas). Real Boss is now one to watch in future engagements. Second winner on the day for Thomas.
