Roc ‘n’ roll time

UNDER overcast skies with some intermittent showers, Melrose & Clifton Racing stable’s four-year-old bay colt Rocamadour tormented the top-rated horses with a commanding victory in the 20th running of the Val Gale Cup for three-year-olds-and-older, going 1 800 metres, at the Garrison Savannah yesterdayOdds-on favourite Apostle led from the start, tracked by Show Me The Money, Pure Temptation, Zoom, Rocamadour, and Preach To Me.Pure Temptation challenged Apostle on the inside for the lead at the five-furlong pole, causing Apostle to surrender and with that ending his chances.  Show Me The Money continued travelling nicely, while Rocamadour was now stalking the leaders on the outside.Rocamdour gained the lead entering the home stretch, full of running, and was given a few reminders on both sides by jockey Kenny John as the pair sailed home comfortably.Show Me The Money simply had no answer, and despite staying on, was only good enough for second. Pure Temptation ran an improved race and finished third, while early pace-setter Apostle was fourth. “I walk the track eight o’clock in the morning and was confident. A shower came down around noon and I was even more confident,” said trainer Jonathan Simpson “I then advised jockey Kenny John to look for the best ground as I knew Rocamadour would stay forever.”Winning rider John said: “I asked the colt for an effort between the three-and two-furlong marker, and he quickened, giving me everything, and he just kept rolling on.”Jalon Samuel continued his fine form with two winners on the card. He produced Turbulent Guy on the outside to win the Duc D Fer Handicap over 1 570 metres, and Charge It  in the Talkaboutlucky Handicap over the same distance.However, the day’s riding honours went to 21-year-old former Alleyne schoolboy apprentice Jamar Croney, who had the previlege of being the first apprentice jockey to record two wins in the first two rides of his career. Allowed to claim ten pounds under Barbados Turf Club rules in his first five rides with non-use of a whip, Croney produced the Lord Michael Taylor-owned Rush Cutter between Prince Of Groves and Surinan with hands and heels only to win the Alto Jane Handicap over 1 100 metres.He returned three races later to impressively guide the Stephen Bynoe-trained 11-1 shot No Spin Zone to a calculated victory in the Midnight Tornado Handicap over 1 570 metres, stalking Wash Brook and the rideless La Padrino. Trainer Anderson Ward should also be commended for taking advantage of the rule and giving Croney his opportunity.Apprentice Reshaun Latchman fell in Race 4 and in Race 6 Antonio Bishop became the second rider to go down as conditions deteriorated. Bishop escaped unhurt, while Latchman had to seek medical attention.      After Race 6, the race course stewards met with the jockeys and decided that conditions were unsafe to continue and abandoned the remainder of the card.