D Royal Prospect in regal victory
Young apprentice jockey Ronald “Tiger” Ali moved from a three-kilo claiming jockey to a two-kilo claiming jockey in impressive fashion when rode an eagerly impressive D Royal Prospect to victory in the Allowance feature race on Day 15 of the Arima Race Club racing season at Santa Rosa Park.
Sent off as the second favourite in the day’s feature race, Ali produced the John O’Brien trained D Royal Prospect at the top of home stretch and overtook the favourite, Leonidas as they battled towards the finish line.
Leonidas was no match for the winner as he faded into third with Cactus Amour motoring down the home stretch finished an impressive second some two lengths behind the winner. Finishing fourth was 2007 Derby runner up Gold Majesty followed by Nandani with Trust N Confidence and Cash It Back bringing up the rear.
Reigning champion jockey Ricky Jadoo was the day’s most successful jockey as he won two races piloting Tapui in the third race and Deputy Commander in the sixth race.
Tapui was racing for the first time in Trinidad & Tobago and won in very impressive fashion by three lengths in a good time of 1:03.20 over a distance of 1100 metres on the turf track.
Reigning champion trainer John O’Brien shared training honours for the day with former champion trainer Glenn Mendez and Harriram “Pepsi” Gobin as they all had two winners on the eight race card. O’Brien had Ketchican in the day’s fifth event and D Royal Prospect in the seventh.
Mendez saddled Sonata’s Melody in the second race and followed that up with Tapui in the fourth race. Damage Control in the day’s opening event and Deputy Commander in the sixth race were Gobin’s winners on the day’s card.
Also in the winner’s enclosure for the day were The Sultan ridden by Luis Rodriguez for owner trainer Dr Stephan Bhagan who was winning for the third time in a row and Cultural Ambassador in the day’s curtain event for trainer Kurt De Freitas with jockey Richard Perez in the saddle.
In the Hi5 betting racing in Race 5 there was a large number of winners as it only paid $1,238.70 as punters correctly selected Ketchikan, Diadora, Achilles of Troy, Chief’s Nephew and South Sea in that order.
In the other Hi5 betting race in Race 8 the pay out was higher as lucky punters walked away with $8,403.30 each for selecting Cultural Ambassador, Ace of Spades, Lady Vendetta, Sing Along and Unbridled Star in that order.
Punters were able to land the Pick 6 after weeks of trying with no winners when they were finally able to pick the winners of races three to eight winning $3,916.10.
The next racing day is May 2 when double world record holder and cricket legend Brian Lara will be celebrating his 40th birthday in the infield at Santa Rosa Park. It promises to be an exciting as the day is being promoted as May Racing Carnival.