Latest News
Roman ‘forces’ easy Reggae 6
November 04, 2024
FEARLESS FORCE and IMPRESSIVE FORCE won in contrasting fashion but were both short-priced favourites on Saturday's Reggae 6, which had no upsetter, resulting in a payout of $9,282 to winning tickets, sending a $6.6 million single-winning ticket jackpot to start Saturday's bet on Jamaica Cup Day.
BEAUTIFUL BRAN, winning at odds of 2-1 on the round course, would have derailed some bets at the Reggae-6 opener - except for bettors sticking to the rule of thumb governing $180,000 claimers - take no chances with the vets' most frequent patients.
Ridden by visiting Victor Sanchez, BEAUTIFUL BRAN, who had only ventured around the bend once in her previous 10 starts, used superior speed to run GALWAY BAY off his legs and fitness to stay clear of FIERY PATH and LAST HOORAH in the stretch run at five and a half furlongs.
Running relaxed with the visor removed, FEARLESS FORCE was last down the backstretch in the small field of six but always had rivals measured, picking off horses on the outside to straighten within striking distance of INDESTRUCTIBLE and FRANCIS.
Raddesh Roman had no problems astride money-back favourite FEARLESS FORCE, the first of three winners he booted home for trainer Philip Feanny and ACK Stables. However, Roman had to pull out all the stops aboard IMPRESSIVE FORCE, chasing down 6-1 chance SUPREMASI, who had, ironically, beaten FEARLESS FORCE a month prior.
It took a nose to separate Roman's IMPRESSIVE FORCE from rival Tevin Foster astride SUPREMASI in the seven-and-a-half furlong event, signalling the first of three thrilling finishes involving the title-chasing duo in their intense battle for the jockeys' crown.
The day's battle ended 115-114, advantage Roman, with HAPPY FORCE's driving victory over CHINITA ESTRELLA in the closing event.
UNSPUN turning the tables on 1-5 favourite MISS MONEYPENNY in the Hover Craft Sprint, Race 2, Series 2, of the BGLC-TOBA Millionaires Series was a jolt for some. However, another rule of thumb served bettors well. Never put necks on the block for two-year-olds increasing in distance more so against foreigners, who can improve overnight after acclimatisation.
HERECOMESDOC franked the lay-up rule, winning second time out off an almost 10-month break, looking far more fluent in the fifth with Foster at odds of 5-2.
Course-specialist QUEEN ZAN closed the Reggae 6 as the 7-5 favourite, beating 21-1 STICKYDON, who was named as 'Bonus Bet' outsider of the day.
