Jamaica Tallawahs continued their unbeaten start to the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with an eight-wicket win over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Wednesday night.
The Jamaican franchise won the toss and chose to field first, with a superb four wicket haul from Salman Irshad helping them restrict the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots to 156-9 after 20 overs. The Tallawahs managed to chase down the target in 16.3 overs, captain Brandon King producing a magnificent innings of 67 to continue the defending champions great start to the season.
The Patriots had got off to a promising early start, Andre Fletcher and Evin Lewis combining to push the score to 20-0 after two overs. Yet the fourth over would change the whole complexion of the tie as Irshad took three wickets, including that of Fletcher and Ambati Rayudu, to leave the Patriots reeling at 37-4.
West Indies international Joshua Da Silva steadily rebuilt the innings with his score of 36, before a late burst from Dominic Drakes saw the Patriots reach 156-9 at the end of their innings.
Jamaica Tallawah openers Brandon King and Kirk McKenzie combined to score seven boundaries and take the side to 34-0 after three overs of their chase. King would go on to bring up his half century off just 22 balls, before losing his wicket on 67 to a Dominic Drakes delivery.
Shamarh Brooks, who scored an unbeaten 38, would continue to accelerate the score before Amir Jangoo would take his side across the finish line with a six.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will look to rebound in tomorrow evening’s match as they face off against Guyana Amazon Warriors.
Scores: Jamaica Tallawahs 157-2 (King 67, Brooks 38; Thomas 1-25, Drakes 1-28) beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 156-9 (Da Silva 36, Drakes 29; Irshad 4-27, Amir 3-20) by 8 wickets.
Former West Indies Women's cricket sensation Deandra Dottin has issued a passionate call to Cricket West Indies, urging the board to prioritize player respect and resources. Dottin, known for her explosive performances on the field, has warned that neglecting these crucial aspects could have dire consequences for the future of cricket in the Caribbean.
In a candid conversation on the Ladies Who Switch podcast, Dottin opened up about her thoughts on her retirement from international cricket and the issues she encountered within the cricket establishment. She expressed concern over the lack of attention given to players' needs, both in terms of resources and respect. Dottin stressed that without proper support and a conducive environment, players cannot perform at their best:
"To be honest, there's been a lot going on in the camp and so much I've been through, so many things that needed to be sorted out, and the players not getting the respect and basically the attention because there are things that needed to be done in order for players to actually perform to the best of their ability," she said.
Dottin, who announced her retirement from international cricket a year ago, cited issues with the team environment as a factor in her decision. Her illustrious career spanned 14 years, featuring remarkable achievements like the 2016 T20 World Cup title and the first century in Women's T20 Internationals.
Presently, Dottin is part of a growing trend among cricketers, both male and female, who are opting to focus on franchise tournaments worldwide. She is associated with teams such as Manchester Originals, Adelaide Strikers, Trinbago Knight Riders, and Barmy Army.
In her opinion, the structures of these leagues offer better support than what was available in the West Indies setup.
"This is basically me right now, playing in franchise... Every day is learning a learning curve for me. I'm not too old to learn," she said.
Dottin emphasized the importance of the West Indies Cricket Board learning from the systems in Australia and England, which prioritize player development and progression. She also highlighted the need for consistent support throughout a player's journey.
"You will see a player come into West Indies Cricket and then you actually see they disappear... it's basically like you're getting what you want out of me and then you just throw me aside," she declared.
While the West Indies Women's cricket team has seen successes in recent years, including a T20 World Cup victory, Dottin believes there's room for improvement. She pointed out the significance of the Women's Premier League (WIPL) as a financially attractive alternative, but she emphasized that respect, care, and the right structure for players are paramount.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has announced that it has extended Angus Eve's tenure as the Head Coach of the Senior Men's National Team until March 2024.
Following Eve’s instrumental role in leading the team to a well-deserved promotion to League A in the Concacaf Nations League, he is now poised to guide the team through their upcoming challenges. On September 7, 2023, the team will face off against Curacao at the iconic Hasely Crawford Stadium. Subsequently, they will embark on a journey to clash with El Salvador on September 10, 2023.
Reflecting on this extension, Robert Hadad, Chairman of the Normalization Committee, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "Angus has injected the role with unwavering stability, exceptional quality, and a profound sense of belief, all of which have resonated within the team."
He further added, "Throughout the journey, we've confronted various challenges as a united force, and it is our firm conviction that Angus is the ideal individual, embodying the right character, to lead us confidently into League A."
Eve himself shared his thoughts on this honor, stating, "Continuing to serve my country and contribute positively in this capacity is an immense privilege."
In conjunction with Eve's contract extension, the TTFA has initiated the formation of a Technical Advisory Panel, which will play a pivotal role in supporting Eve. The identities of the members comprising this panel will be conclusively determined and subsequently unveiled within the upcoming days.
Mostahdaf provided Frankie Dettori with a fifth domestic Group One of the season and in the process helped him become the most successful jockey in the history of the Juddmonte International at York.
In drawing away from Lester Piggott with a sixth win in York’s best race, Dettori created yet another record in a career that is set to end later this year.
But when you see him at his best, as he was once again from the front on John and Thady Gosden’s five-year-old, you have to wonder why he is retiring at all.
Yes, he has achieved almost everything in the game, but on the big occasion and when it matters the most, there really have been very few better.
Up against the potential Horse of the Year in Aidan O’Brien’s Paddington, who had beaten Dettori and Emily Upjohn in the Eclipse, he was determined his younger rival was not going to have things all his own way.
In a complete change of tactics from Ascot, when Mostahdaf had been so impressive in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Dettori bounded out of the stalls into an early advantage and it was one he would not relinquish with the Italian hailing him as the best 10-furlong horse around.
With his Ascot partner Jim Crowley suspended for his winning ride in the King George, Dettori for once was in the role as super-sub.
He still held a two-length lead two furlongs out but it was then a matter of what was left in the tank, however, by then Paddington was also beginning to paddle and it was the winner’s stablemate Nashwa closing in.
There might not have been much in the locker at the finish, but as he so often has in his storied career, Dettori had ridden the perfect race.
“He’s run over a mile and a half, so he stays a mile and a quarter really well. The key was to get the fractions right, not too slow and not too fast and thankfully after 36 years I got it right,” said Dettori.
“I knew I had got it right because when I looked round I still had two lengths rope, I expected them to be on my quarters and when they weren’t I knew it would take a good horse to catch me now.
“This is my last Ebor meeting, my wife has come along and to be the first jockey to get six Juddmonte Internationals, beating Lester, I couldn’t ask for more.
“This was a real team effort. I have to thank Angus Gold and Richard Hills (Shadwell’s racing managers), Sheikha Hissa for giving me the ride and John and Thady – and especially Jim, it’s his ride. We all came up with a plan to beat this great horse Paddington. We wanted to bully the race from the beginning. It takes a good horse to do that and he was.”
Connections of Mostahdaf had admitted in the build up to the race that his achievements had somewhat gone under the radar, his Ascot performance looked too good to be true and yet he backed it up again.
“What he did at Ascot, people thought it was put on a plate for him but today he did it on his own,” said Dettori, who, when asked about his impending retirement replied: “I’ve got seven weeks and three days left – not that I’m counting!
“We were having to give 7lb to the favourite, but for a reason – we are an older horse and stronger, but that is valuable weight and quite an advantage. Because of that I didn’t want to have to chase him, when you are giving a horse weight you want them chasing you, not be chasing them.
“There’s a limit you can go, you don’t want to go too fast but at the same time you can’t go too slow.
“He’s a super horse, he showed that at Ascot. Because we know he stays a bit further, we wanted it to be a test and I could be aggressive.”
Dettori has ridden greats like Halling, Swain, Sakhee and Authorized to success in this great race and he feels Mostahdaf sits comfortably in their company.
“Undoubtedly he is the best mile-and-a-quarter horse around after this performance. I suspect John will find some good races for him at the end of the season but unfortunately for me, I’m not likely to be on him, but I’ll just take it as it comes,” he said.
“Equinox beat this horse a good few lengths over a mile and a half, which isn’t his best distance while it might be for Equinox. This lad is right at home over a mile and a quarter.
“To be the first jockey to win this six times means a lot.”
Aidan O’Brien blamed himself for pulling “the elastic band too long” with Paddington after his star colt’s remarkable winning run came to an end in the Juddmonte International at York.
The son of Siyouni has arguably been the star of the season so far, winning each of his previous six races including Group One triumphs in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the St James’s Palace, the Coral-Eclipse and the Sussex Stakes.
As was the case at Goodwood three weeks ago, Paddington Bear was in attendance on the Knavesmire as his namesake aimed for a fifth top-level success in the space of three months.
Ridden by Ryan Moore, the 4-6 favourite did his best to keep tabs on the front-running Mostahdaf and Frankie Dettori.
But try as he might, he could never quite get on terms with with John and Thady Gosden’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes hero and in the end he was pipped to the runner-up spot by the winner’s stablemate Nashwa.
“He ran a great race, he had a tough race the last day and maybe it was a race too many for him,” O’Brien said afterwards.
“Maybe I just pulled the elastic band too long – that’s the reality. He had a tough race in Goodwood on soft ground. He had to fight twice in Goodwood and it just told today.
“He was just a little bit down in himself. Maybe I should have waited and gone to Leopardstown (for the Irish Champion Stakes) to give him a bit more time.
“He’s only a baby three-year-old and Ryan felt he was just a little bit flat. He was in good form and obviously we were happy to come here, but you don’t really know until the speedometer goes to red.
“Frankie went evenly strong all the way and Ryan said he didn’t travel with his usual fluency, but he still ran very well.”
Considering future plans, he added: “We’ll see how he is – everything’s a possibility.
“He definitely won’t go to the Irish Champion after that and it will depend what the lads want to do.
“He is only a baby three-year-old and we have fairly given it to him – we backed him up fairly tough and he did have a tough one the last day.
“I would have to say maybe I shouldn’t have ran him, but that’s the way it is.”
Connections of Nashwa consider her performance a career best as she came home a length behind the winner.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner-breeder Imad Al Sagar, said: “We were always confident she was going to run a big race and she really did.
“Everything went pretty smoothly in the race, she absolutely put it to them, and what a race for York and for racing and everybody.
“Nashwa has really been exceptional and I’m sure today was a career-best. If you beat Paddington, you’d have to say it is.
“I think in the back of our minds the Queen Elizabeth II is where we’d like to end up, most probably, as it’s most likely to be on soft ground. She gets a mile and a quarter well, but a mile on soft ground would probably be more her thing.
“Really and truly, you’d have to be really pleased with her today.”
Savethelastdance and Bluestocking, who served up such a thrilling contest in the Irish Oaks, meet again in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks at York on Thursday.
Second at Epsom to Soul Sister, Aidan O’Brien’s Savethelastdance gained her own Classic victory at the Curragh – but it looked far from likely with a furlong to run.
The race had gone perfectly to plan for Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking, who hit the front with 100 yards to race.
However, having been caught seemingly flat footed when the pace quickened, Ryan Moore conjured up one last lunge from Savethelastdance and she was able to get her head in front in the nick of time.
Speaking after saddling Continuous to win Wednesday’s Great Voltigeur Stakes, O’Brien admitted underfoot conditions at York may not be ideal for his filly.
He said: “Looking at the ground today is a little bit of a worry. Ryan said the ground is quicker than it was in (Royal) Ascot, so it’s proper quick ground.
“She (Savethelastdance) has ran on it – she ran on it in Epsom. Her best form is in soft ground and obviously she’s not going to get that, but she’s in good form.”
O’Brien has a very capable second string in the shape of Warm Heart, winner of the Ribblesdale at Ascot but a slightly underwhelming fifth in the Irish Oaks.
“Maybe the softer ground just caught her out there, and she got caught further back than ideal off a slow pace,” said O’Brien.
“All those things could have contributed to what was maybe a little bit of a disappointing run.
“Other than that she had a really nice, progressive profile.”
For Beckett, he came within half a length of having won the Irish Derby and Oaks in successive years following on from Westover’s exploits.
Bluestocking remains without a win this year, but her run at the Curragh was another big step forward from her third place in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, behind Warm Heart.
Beckett said: “Bluestocking worked well on Friday and we are happy to go. It’s the right spot for her and at her level there aren’t many alternatives, as she’s Group One placed and so not eligible for the Galtres.
“I was thrilled with her at the Curragh, where everything went right and she just got caught. That was only her fourth race and she’s improved every time, so it’s possible she’ll improve again, but I don’t know how much more we might see at this level. It’s a deep renewal, but I’m really hopeful.”
The Yorkshire Oaks forms part of the Qipco British Champions Series and one filly with a win in the Fillies’ & Mares’ category already is Roger Varian’s Al Husn, who sprang something of a surprise in the Nassau at Goodwood when beating Blue Rose Cen and Nashwa.
Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “We wanted everything to be right and the question was always whether this would come too soon after the Nassau, but she did a bit of work last Thursday and everyone is happy with her.
“We are very lucky that she’s got a Group One on the board already, so we don’t have to chase one, and running here instead of in last Sunday’s Prix Jean Romanet gives her an extra four days.
“She hasn’t run over this trip before and nobody has ever said to me that they think she wants further, but she’s so tough and it’s obviously a lovely race. With Sheikha Hissa due to be at York, we are keen to run.”
Karl Burke has two contenders in Lancashire Oaks winner Poptronic and the three-year-old Novakai.
“It’s a very hot renewal but both fillies deserve to take their chance,” said Burke.
“Poptronic is a very strong stayer and she was very good when beating Sea Silk Road in the Lancashire Oaks, so I’d be very hopeful that she can run into a place at least.
“She ran in the Yorkshire Oaks a year ago, and although she finished last she was only beaten around 10 lengths by the Arc winner, heavily eased down. If anything, that gave us the encouragement to carry on with her from three to four. Whether she can win a Group One as strong as this, I don’t know, but she’s certainly capable of placing in one.
“Novakai is a year younger and less exposed at the trip. She was second in the Fillies’ Mile last year, and we started her off this year at a mile and a quarter because her owner Sheikh Obaid was keen to keep her at that trip to start with.
“She was second in the Musidora and then went to France for the Diane, but it was when we stepped her up to a mile and a half that she really came into her own, bolting up in the Listed Aphrodite Stakes at Newmarket. This is a lot stronger, but she’s a good staying filly and she deserves to take her chance.”
Frankie Dettori produced a brilliant front-running ride aboard Mostahdaf as he lowered the colours of Paddington in a thrilling edition of the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
Deputising for the suspended Jim Crowley aboard John and Thady Gosden’s Royal Ascot scorer, Dettori wasted little time in bouncing the 3-1 second favourite out of the stalls and quickly into stride, he set perfect fractions as the Shadwell-owned five-year-old made every yard of the running.
Although Ryan Moore received the desired response when asking Paddington to close the gap in the home straight, he ultimately had no answer to Mostahdaf who kept finding extra under an ultra-confident Dettori as he registered a length success and followed up the owner’s victory in the Group One contest with the imperious Baaeed 12 months ago.
Stablemate Nashwa edged her way past Paddington for the silver medal late on as the Clarehaven team enjoyed a fabulous one-two, but the day belonged to Dettori who by winning the race for the first time since 2007, moved past Lester Piggott to become the contest’s leading rider.
Ryan Moore produced a sterling ride aboard Continuous as he came from last to first to register an emphatic victory in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the son of Heart’s Cry dead-heated for third in the Dante at the track earlier in the season and was putting his St Leger credentials to the test following a fine effort in defeat behind King Of Steel at Royal Ascot.
Sent off the 4-1 second favourite, he answered every question to throw his hat in the ring for the final Classic of the season in tremendous fashion.
Ridden with real patience by Moore as 8-11 favourite Gregory went for home early under Frankie Dettori, Continuous gradually worked his way through the gears and as Gregory’s challenge began to wain inside the final two furlongs, the Ballydoyle colt was just getting started as he powered clear of runner-up Castle Way for an authoritative three-and-three-quarter-length success.
The winner was cut to 4-1 joint favourite from 12s by Betfair for the St Leger on September 16, with the firm also easing Gregory out to 5-1 for Doncaster after John and Thady Gosden’s charge stayed on for third.
O’Brien said: “He’s a lovely horse who is progressing, he has enough class for a mile and a half and could stay further. He’s an exciting horse really.
“He handles an ease in the ground well as he has a bit of a round action, but that was fast ground there today – Ryan said it was quicker than it was at Royal Ascot – and he didn’t seem to have any problem with it.
“He came here in the Dante and needed the run very badly and ran a massive race. I said to Ryan before the race today ‘would any of those other horses have ran as well in the Dante as he did?’ and he said they wouldn’t. A little bit of class usually outs, especially if the pace is even.
“I asked Ryan about that (the St Leger trip). He said he doesn’t need a mile and six but he said you wouldn’t rule it out.”
Charlie Appleby does not view Castle Way as a St Leger candidate following his run, with an American target on the horizon now.
He said: “I’m pleased. The fractions looked very quick and William (Buick) said he was close enough but fair play to the winner, he was the fastest horse in the race.
“The main thing to take out of it is that William did say the mile and six in the Leger will probably stretch him, so where do we go next?
“I think I’ll most definitely put him on the radar for Belmont (Jockey Club Derby) where the quick ground will suit him.
“That will most likely be our next stop. He’s got a great attitude, he tries but he was beaten by a better horse today.”
John Gosden was pleased with the performance of Gregory in third, and feels the extra distance in the St Leger will be in his favour.
“We felt we couldn’t go from Royal Ascot to the Leger so we had to come here, even with a 3lb penalty,” he said.
“They went a strong pace and there were two others forcing it, but what I loved about it was that a furlong out he got going again.
“To me he’s run the perfect trial for the Leger. I did say to the owners before the race that I’d asked the course executive if they could move the stalls back to the start of the Ebor, but they wouldn’t!
“I couldn’t be more pleased as a Leger prep and you can see by the size of him he’s all about next year, one more run in the Leger and then Cup races next year.”
As Paul Hanagan bows out after a 25-year career in the saddle, we reflect on five of the dual champion jockey’s best horses:
TAGHROODA
Taghrooda won her only juvenile start and then blazed home by six lengths in the Pretty Polly Stakes to mark herself as a Classic contender. She went to post as a 5-1 shot for John Gosden in the Oaks, making easy work of a near four-length win before exploiting the three-year-old allowance to perfection to follow up in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. Narrowly beaten as the 1-5 favourite in the Yorkshire Oaks, she rounded off her career when beaten just over three lengths into third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
MUHAARAR
The sprint king of 2015, Muhaarar’s ability was evident when winning the Gimcrack the previous season. Trained by Charlie Hills, Muhaarar won the Greenham which prompted a crack at the French 2000 Guineas, but after failing to stay he dropped back to six furlongs and mopped up the Commonwealth Cup, July Cup and Prix Maurice de Gheest before signing off with a British Champions Sprint triumph.
WOOTTON BASSETT
Wootton Bassett was a landmark horse for the Paul Hanagan-Richard Fahey axis, providing the pair with their first Group One success in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. That victory capped a five-race unbeaten juvenile campaign for the colt, which also included a couple of richly-endowed sales events at Doncaster and York along the way. While he did not win at three, he has gone on to prove a stallion revelation with a welter of Group One winners and a current stud fee of €150,000.
SANDS OF MALI
Winner of the 2017 Gimcrack Stakes, he took the Sandy Lane and finished second in the Commonwealth Cup the following spring, but by the time midsummer came around, it looked as though he had posted his best as he turned in a couple of lacklustre runs. However, soft ground at Ascot in the autumn saw him roar back to form and defy his odds of 28-1 to win the British Champions Sprint on what was his final run in Hanagan’s hands.
MAYSON
At his peak in his four-year-old season, Mayson won the Abernant and Palace House Stakes on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile before successfully switching to the July course to land the July Cup later in the campaign. He had only one more run after that, when edged by a neck in the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp, completing a fine rise through the ranks to bow out with a rating of 119.
Equilateral, running in his first handicap in the UK, defied top weight in the Sky Bet And Symphony Group-sponsored opener at York.
Trained by Charlie Hills, the sprinter is now in the veteran stage as an eight-year-old but is clearly still a force to be reckoned with.
While he had run in handicaps before, they had only been in Meydan, where he won the same event two years running in 2020 and 2021.
Since then he has spent his career dining at the top tables, running in Pattern races with his career-best effort coming behind stablemate Battaash in the 2020 King’s Stand when second.
He had run well earlier in the season to be second in both the Temple and Achilles Stakes at Haydock but was last of 11 at Goodwood behind Highfield Princess last time out.
In a typically helter-skelter affair, York specialist Copper Knight made a bold bid but was swamped close home, with Equilateral and Jamie Spencer beating Alligator Alley by a neck with a head back to Jm Jungle.
Hills said: “He’s a yard favourite, he’s always got his head over the door and the day he does leave will be very sad.
“He loves Dubai, he ran well this year without getting his head in front, hopefully that will give him confidence to go forward and go back into Group class. He loves that fast ground.
“He’s in the Flying Five at the Curragh and that is a definite option. If Khaadem can win a Group One at 80-1 then this fellow can!”
Indian Run announced himself as a youngster on the rise with a stylish display in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York
Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, he was only third on debut at Newbury, but advertised his potential with a clinical win at Ascot next time.
Always travelling strongly on the outside in the hands of Danny Tudhope, he eased to the head of proceedings heading up the Knavesmire straight and the son of Sioux Nation still had plenty up his sleeve at the business end of the contest to repel the challenge of Ballymount Boy as he finished the Group Three contest full of running.
Owned by the Bronte Collection, made up of connections of leading owner Steve Parkin and including England cricket star Jonny Bairstow, the 17-2 scorer could now be set for bigger things and was trimmed to 12-1 from 16s by Paddy Power to follow in the footsteps of last year’s Acomb winner Chaldean and head for Newmarket’s Dewhurst Stakes.
William Haggas’ Relief Rally will be tested over six furlongs in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York after an impressive string of five-furlong performances.
The daughter of Kodiac has been beaten just once in four runs, winning a novice and a conditions race before stepping up to Group Two level in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
There she was beaten just a nose by the American challenger Crimson Advocate in a busy field of 26 runners.
She lost little in defeat and was a winner again when heading to Newbury for the Super Sprint, a race she won by three lengths under regular rider Tom Marquand.
The same jockey will receive the leg-up on the Knavesmire, where Relief Rally steps up to six furlongs for the first time against a group of eight rivals for the Group Two Lowther.
Trainer William Haggas said: “She’ll run a good race. She’s a lovely filly – very fast, very able, goes on any ground.
“She should get the trip – I think she’ll enjoy the trip.”
Relief Rally will face Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda, a Dark Angel filly last seen winning the Alice Keppel at Goodwood by a convincing four lengths.
Prior to that the grey was sixth of 26 in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, where she was the first home in the group on the far side as the race split into three bunches across the track.
“She won well at Goodwood in different ground conditions, we’re looking forward to seeing her over six furlongs and she seems in great form,” said Balding.
“You never quite know until you try, but it’s a nice race for her and the timing is right.
“The draw was a factor there (at Ascot) but it won’t be here, it’s a smaller field.
“Hopefully we’ll get a fair race and fingers crossed she runs well.”
Also well-fancied is Aidan O’Brien’s Cherry Blossom, a No Nay Never filly with form over six furlongs as she won a Curragh maiden over the trip by five lengths earlier in August.
Prior to that she notably made her debut in Listed company, finishing fourth in the Marwell Stakes when beaten only a length and a quarter.
“We started her off in a Listed race and she ran well,” said O’Brien.
“She’d taken a big step forward from that and we’ve always liked her. Any ease in the ground would be an advantage to her.”
Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have a runner in Star Of Mystery, winner of the Listed Empress Stakes and second in the Duchess of Cambridge at Newmarket’s July Cup meeting.
Karl Burke, who was victorious last year with Swingalong, has two chances with Beautiful Diamond and Dorothy Lawrence.
Beautiful Diamond was third in the Queen Mary when racing alone behind the leading duo, prior to which she was a decisive winner of a Nottingham maiden.
Dorothy Lawrence has more racing experience having run four times, including a good course effort when second in the Marygate by half a length in May.
Following that performance she was third at Chantilly and then won for the first time in an Ayr maiden last month.
Running in the same Clipper Logistics silks for Michael Bell will be Queen’s Guard, who comes into the race having won a Yarmouth maiden last time, with Irish trainer Paddy Twomey represented by Airlie Stud Stakes second Gunzburg.
Clive Cox will saddle Symbology, a winner over course and distance on debut before finishing third in the Princess Margaret at Ascot.
It was always expected to be two hard-fought encounters to decide the Men’s and Women’s Singles titles at the 28th edition of the Senior Caribbean Championships, and both lived up to billing, as the Barbados pair of Khamal Cumberbatch and Margot Prow claimed top honours in Cayman Islands on Tuesday.
Cumberbatch and Cameron Stafford of the hosts nation entered the one-week tournament as top seeds in the men’s draw and, so it was no surprise that they locked horns in a keenly contested best-of-five final, which the former won 3-2.
The ding-dong battle which lasted 47 minutes, saw Stafford winning the first game 11-6, before Cumberbatch rallied to win the second 11-3. The Cayman Islands top man again found himself in front winning the third game 11-9, but Cumberbatch asserted authority in the last two games to win 11-9, 11-3.
Predictions were that the women’s showpiece would have been an all-Guyana battle between Nicolette Fernandes and Ashley Khalil, but Prow had other ideas, as she bettered Khalil in the semi-final to set up the gold medal battle with Fernandes.
And the Bajan proved superior to her Guyanese counterpart in the Best-of-five final, registering a 3-1 win. She won the first set 11-7, before Fernandes rallied to take the second 11-9, but Prow, like her compatriot Cumberbatch, showed class at the backend to win the next two games 11-9 and 11-7.
Earlier, Julian Jervis and Stafford, handed Cayman Islands the Men’s Doubles gold medal, as they battled to a come-from-behind 11-7, 11-5 win over the Barbadian pair of Cumberbatch and Shawn Simpson in an entertaining finale. Cumberbatch and Simpson won the first set 7-11.
To get to the finals, both pairs had to endure almost hour-long battles in their respective semi-final encounters, Cumberbatch and Simpson moreso, as they had to come from behind to better the Jamaican pair of Bruce Burrowes and Julian Morrison 11-9, 11-8, after losing the first set 9-11.
While the Cayman duo’s battle against Guyana’s Daniel Ince and Jason-Ray Khalil lasted 48 minutes, they won 2-0 with scores of 11-9, 11-10.
In the Women’s Doubles, Guyana secured gold courtesy of top seeded Ashley Khalil and Ashley De Groot, who justified favouritism with a come-from-behind 11-5, 11-9 win over the second seeded Cayman Islands pair of Jade Pitcarin and Marlene West, who won the opening set 11-4.
Khalil and De Groot had earlier bettered Barbadians Karen Meakins and Margot Prow 11-5, 5-11, 11-5 in a competitive three-set battle lasting just over half-hour, while Pitcarin and West got by the Jamaican duo of Karen Anderson and Mia Todd, 11-9, 11-6.
Jamaica’s Tahjia Lumley and Jessica Davis copped the Mixed Doubles title by virtue of a walkover. The reason for such an outcome remains unclear, as the Jamaicans were expected to face the number two seeded Guyanese pair of Jason-Ray Khalil and Nicolette Fernandes in the showpiece event.
After entering the event as the number five seed, the Jamaicans registered an 11-5, 11-2 win over the Trinidad and Tobago pair of Anthony Allum and Faith Gillezeau, and later scored a two-set 11-5, 11-5 win over top seeded pair of Alex Frazer and Michaela Rensburg of the host nation, on their way to the final.
Meanwhile, Khalil and Fernandes bettered the Barbadian pair of Darien Benn and Jada Smith-Padmore 11-5, 11-8, on their way to the final.
The tournament continues with team action on Wednesday.
Canada’s Woodbine racetrack’s handle on Sunday’s 13-race card of CAN$18.12 million was a record for a King’s or Queen’s Plate card at Woodbine, surpassing the previous record of CAN$18.00 set in 2019.
“The first King’s Plate in 72 years was an incredible event in every way,” Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“It resulted in an all-time wagering record. Thank you to our customers and to the Woodbine team for hosting an iconic social and sporting event.”
There were several factors that contributed to the record, including a field of 17 in the King’s Plate, the cancellation of racing at Del Mar (California) on Sunday, a rare pick five carryover, and mandatory payouts on both the Jackpot High 5 and the Jackpot Pick 6.
With Patrick Husbands aboard for champion trainer Mark Casse, Paramount Prince won the 164th running of King’s Plate at 8-1 odds by a length and a half over his more fancied stablemate Elysian Field (9-2), giving the 50-year-old Barbadian rider his third winner in the CAN$1 million Plate Classic, after Wando in 2003 and Lexie Lou in 2014.
The record day was big for Barbados as jockey Rico Walcott and trainer Renico Lafond also had stakes wins on the card.
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