JOCKEY KENNY JOHN stole the honours when the curtain came down on the second racing season yesterday at the Garrison Savannah, booting home three winners.
One of John’s victories came in the afternoon’s featured race, the Sale Graduates’ Champion Stakes (weight for age) for Barbadian-bred three- and four-year-olds over 1 570 metres.
He produced a superb run on the Sir R. Buchanan, P. Isdell, S. Panter and U.Z. Hilti filly Lady Quill for trainer Andrew Nunes to defeat stable mate and Derby winner Bandera Belle, ridden by Ricky Walcott, by half a length.
Third was Lune De Barachois partnered by Dario Dalrymple and fourth was Capere, with Anderson Trotman aboard.
John shared the spotlight with the rising star Shared Adventure, who methodically defeated his seven opponents in the BTC Sprint Handicap for three-years and older horses rated 97-120 and also open to horses rated 96 and below over 1 100 metres.
The speed machine got an enterprising ride from apprentice Antonio Whitehall.
The colt was settled off the pace, which was set by Run Alke Run, who raced five lengths ahead of Purr Class and Janaki.
With the others at the back struggling to make an impression, jockey Whitehall remained watchful until reaching the homestretch. By that time Run Alke Run had given up the lead to Purr Class and Janaki while Shared Adventure remained on the bridle.
Purr Class led the field into the stretch with Janaki in hot pursuit and Run Alke Run weakening. Enough running room was left on the rails for Shared Adventure to go through and complete a comfortable and impressive victory.
Purr Class under apprentice Demario Bynoe placed second, while stablemate Run Alke Run with Anderson Trotman was third and Janaki, partnered by John, fourth.
The Kenny John show began in the first race when he scored the first of two wins on the card for the combination of owners Bill and Haley Blevins and trainer Jonathon Simpson.
He started with a pole-to-pole win on the two-year-old filly The Price Is Right, who recorded back-to-back wins by taking the Sale Graduates’ Futurity Stakes Condition Race for Barbadian-bred two-year-olds over 1 100 metres.
John’s next trip to winners’ enclosure for the combination came with the colt Little Man Arran who was given a patient ride to take the BTC Stayers Handicap for three-years and older horses rated 77-100 and also open to horses rated 76 and below at 1 800 metres.
Nomoreginrog led Wild Fire, Captain Sully, A. P. Vincero and Island Memories for the first seven furlongs, competing the mile in 1:41.1, at which time John had the son of Golden Missile out of Ms Copelan still hidden against the rail off the leaders.
But in the homestretch, John and Little Man Arran simply went by the tired crop that had led them throughout, eventually stopping the clock in one minute and 53 seconds.
Little Man Arran’s margin of two and a half lengths does not really tell how easily he disposed of the field.
Racing now takes a break and resumes on November 3.
