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Favourites set pace for Reggae 6
January 02, 2025
RYAN Darby's familiarity with PHOENIX RISEN gave many Reggae 6 bets a flying start on New Year's Day, setting off a run of three winning favourites, with no major hurdle following, resulting in a $19,325 payout.
TRIBAL CHIEF, who chased ENTHUSIASM on debut at a similar trip before giving way to return winner, HONOUR PRINCE, was the first of two winners for Omar Walker and trainer Anthony Nunes, who went on to notch a three-timer after Shane Ellis nursed home 2-1 chance SMART TRICK in the eighth.
The third was easily won by SENSATIONAL MOVE, returning with figure-eight fitted at five and a half furlongs after disputing the lead with stablemate and runner-up, MONEY MARKET in the Bruceontheloose won by ATLANTIC CONVOY on Mouttet Mile day.
Walker, who has been quietly gaining a foothold in Nunes' barn, used ORINCE AMAAN to upstage speedsters at five furlongs straight in the fourth at odds of 7-1, the only real Reggae 6 hiccup.
MATRIARCH sprang a 5-1 surprise in the fifth as 3-5 favourite SCHLESINGER finished down the track, a norm, which underscores the risk of banking low-level claimers.
DRONE STRIKE landing the sixth, in the absence of non-runner PRINCE DOMINICK, again exposed the inconsistency of low-level claimers, the bane of form players.
Meanwhile, RUN JULIE RUN, the impressive Chairman's Plate winner on Mouttet Mike Day, repelled ATLANTIC CONVOY, BARNABY and PERFECT BREW to land the seven-furlong Miracle Man Cup with Dane Dawkins.
Dismissing the boys in the straight, RUN JULIE RUN clocked 1:25.0, a crippling acceleration of 1:12.2 for six furlongs after a moderate 48.0 for the first half-mile. United States-bred BARNABY finished five and three-quarter lengths away for second ahead of stablemate PERFECT BREW and RAINSVILLE.
Howling favourite LEGACY ISLE, whose exercise report was void of a speed gallop, failed to finish the event, confirming suspicions of unsoundness.
LEGACY ISLE's stablemate, COMMANDANT, third in the Mouttet Mile, notched a commanding victory with newly minted champion jockey, Raddesh Roman, in the SVREL Fan Appreciation Day Trophy at nine furlongs and 25 yards, humbling course-specialist NEO STAR.
