Fred The Great scores impressive win in Caymanas Park feature

DESPITE being bumped at the start by FEARLESS SOUL, United States-bred FRED THE GREAT did everything right yesterday to beat overnight-allowance winners at a mile, completing back-to-back wins in his first attempt past seven furlongs.

Impressive last time out when chasing down fellow American PROVOCATIVA at seven furlongs on June 29, clocking a fast 1:25.4, FRED THE GREAT reproduced the form of that race, sitting comfortably off the pace while Canadian ATLANTIC CONVOY tried making all with NO MORE DEALS and RANI BANGALA hounding.

Urged to get closer by leading rider Tevin Foster, 5-2 chance FRED THE GREAT improved into fifth along the rail, while fellow American SISTREN TREASURE made a sweeping move on the outside to make a bid at ATLANTIC CONVOY coming off the home turn.

However, no sooner had the four-year-old filly announced her intentions, FRED THE GREAT, cutting the corner like a Formula One car, took aim at ATLANTIC CONVOY, taking over a furlong out to sprint clear under a showboating Foster.

FRED THE GREAT clocked 1:40.0 at the distance in a three-length win for champion trainer Jason DaCosta ahead of ATLANTIC CONVOY and SISTREN TREASURE with Raddesh Roman, his rival in the jockeys' title race.

Foster rode two winners on the 10-race card, earlier producing SUNSHINE CAT with a strong rail run to beat $250,000 optional claimers at six and a half furlongs in the third. However, Foster lost ground to Roman for the second consecutive meet, watching his rival boot home back-to-back three-timers, reducing his advantage to six winners atop the standings.

Roman opened his account with a storming ride aboard ALLEGIANCE, the first of two winners he partnered for Anthony Nunes, beating SUPER ALEX and GRECIAN LIGHT with Foster in a three-way photo at seven furlongs in the second event.

Nunes' down-in-class course-specialist, VOLATILITY, was always an armchair ride for Roman at five furlongs straight in the fourth at odds of 1-5, similarly speedy PRINCESS IFIYAH, who made all out the straight to beat four-year-old maidens in the sixth as the money-back favourite.

Claiming rider Shavon Townsend, who won last Saturday's Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame Stakes astride DaCosta's American IS THAT A FACT, continues to hold his own among the top jocks, riding a two-timer - TRAVELLER'S LODGE and MACK AND ROME - both winning at 5-1.

July's month of racing closes next Saturday before a three-day holiday carnival, August 1, 3 and 6, starting with Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission Raceday, followed by the Jamaica Oaks and Jamaica Derby.