Dutchess stands out on day of short-priced winners

DUTCHESS, previewed in The Weekend Star’s Reggae 6 Snaps as ‘Reports light at 108lb from a good draw’, won yesterday’s third race at odds of 5-1, the longest shot on mandatory-payout day, which returned $57,450 to winning tickets.

Patrick Lynch’s LEGAL FIGHT, touted as ‘the closest thing to a Reggae 6 banker’, won the second event after first-choice REJECTED RAJA won the opening event at odds of 2-1, setting the stage for bettors.

Though 3-1 market-springer GLOBAL MACHINE reversed his dismal form to land the fifth, REJECTED RAJA, LEGAL FIGHT, DUTCHESS and CONFIDENCE IS HIGH would have set the stage for successful bettors closing on CALL HER NORRAY in the sixth.

Jamaica Cup

Meanwhile, THE PRINCE’S SPUR strolled the Jamaica Cup, six and a quarter lengths clear of fellow American GIRVANO, a routine win for Rohan Crichton’s seven-year-old gelding, his second from three starts locally after narrowly losing the September 5 Gold Cup to defending Mouttet Mile champion, RIDEALLDAY.

Having already qualified for the December 5 US$300,000 Mouttet Mile by virtue of having arrived in the island this calendar year and his connections submitting a letter of intent before September 30, the stage has been set for a rematch with RIDEALLDAY in the season’s biggest race.

Running at generous odds of 3-2, THE PRINCE’S SPUR joined MOJITO four and a half furlongs out before going about his business, leaving surprise 6-5 GIRVANO chasing in vain. THE PRINCE’S SPUR clocked 1:58.3 for the nine-and-a-half-furlong event, handing the defending champion jockey his third of four winners on the 10 race card.

Surprised rivals

Whereas THE PRINCE’S SPUR’s Jamaica Cup victory was always on the cards after rebounding from his RIDEALLDAY loss with a 12-length demolition of overnight-allowance runners, Jason DaCosta’s DOTHRAKI surprised rivals with a gate-to-wire win in the six-furlong Port Royal Sprint, booking a win-and-you’re-in passage to the Mouttet Mile.

Sent off at odds of 5-1 with leading rider Tevin Foster, American DOTHRAKI was vigorously ridden to lead past fellow United States-bred, PACK PLAYS, who had beaten him by two lengths at the exact trip, running as the 6-5 favourite in the August 15 None Such Trophy.

Chasing DOTHRAKI on the lead, PACK PLAYS surprisingly wilted midway through the event, giving way to DESERT OF MALIBU, which signalled the end, considering the seven-year-old American mare has never won a race lying further than second off the pace.

DOTHRAKI powered home in 1:11.2 but just ahead of NAUTICAL STAR, whose rider, lightweight Tajay Suckoo’s hesitation to burrow through along the rail, anticipating Foster closing the space, might have cost him the race, which he lost by a neck.

Though DOTHRAKI’s win-and-you’re-in victory sets him up for a shot at The Mouttet Mile, DaCosta could instead point the sprinter to the grade-one Bruceontheloose at six and a half furlongs, considering NAUTICAL STAR was catching him with every stride in the Port Royal.

Three-timer

DOTHRAKI closed a three-timer for Foster, keeping him 11 winners clear of Roman, after opening the card with back-to-back winners, REJECTED RAJA and LEGAL FIGHT, bidding for his first riders’ title.

Roman, reigning champion since defeating Foster by one winner for the 2024 crown, a thrilling battle in the last race of the season, is clawing his way back into contention after being out of the saddle for almost a month following a fall in July.

Booting home the aptly named CONFIDENCE IS HIGH in the fourth, Roman returned for an armchair ride astride Crichton’s CALL HER NORRAY in the sixth, before closing the last double with THE PRINCE’S SPUR and WALK THE PLANK.