Champion trainer John O’Brien continued his superb training form when he won both graded events at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Tuesday.
O’Brien saddled the Edmund DeFreitas Gold Cup winner Hello World to an impressive victory in the biggest Staying Event in the Southern Caribbean over 2,000 metres at Santa Rosa Park. O’Brien, also won the third event, the St James/St Ann’s Stakes with the impressive Headlines Again.
O’Brien thus continued his winning ways and took the two feature events on the final day of the 2023 season.
Lester Alexis was at his best on Boxing Day as he saddled a 60-1 double with Afridi in the second race and Midnight Lover in the fourth. The former was given a peach of a ride by Omar Mohammed and when he produced the three-year-old gelding, winning was never in doubt. Midnight Lover made all at 20-1 to land a very good double for the trainer when beating the O’Brien-trained Princess Royal by 3/4 length.
According to Alexis, “I told him to go out and ride the horse with all the confidence in the world. Once he broke him well and he got into an uncontested lead, I knew it was over. He ran very well.”
Alexis was the only trainer who mustered the strength to match O’Brien’s winning record on Boxing Day.
Alexis said, “Both our horses ran well and won as I expected. They were both well prepared and ran to their preparation. It was good for my stable and I appreciate this Christmas gift.”
In the Gold Cup, when the horses entered the straight, Crown Prince took the lead from In The Headlines as the rails opened up for Hello World as Just Exhale and Soca Harmony were closing.
Within a matter of strides, the race was over as champion jockey Brian Boodramsingh sent the three-year-old Hello World through on the rail to win his first Grade One event. He quickly put paid to the chances of Crown Prince and galloped majestically to the line. Soca Harmony stayed on well to be third ahead of Just Exhale in fourth with the early leader In The Headlines fading into fifth.
Hello World recorded to time of 2:09.1 for the 3 3/4-length romp.
In the St James/St Ann’s Stakes, it was much the same as Boodramsingh put the 1-9 favourite Headlines Again into the lead and she won easily from Stablemate Creme De La Creme and Red Alert with Uncle Rog showing that he is one for the notebook. Headlines Again registered the time of 1:24.4 for the trip.
The O’Brien camp must be happy with Boodramsingh, now jockeys’ champion, Tristan Phillip, the apprentice champion and O’Brien, the champion trainer.
Alexis had his best day for the season when saddling two winners in Afridi and Midnight Lover. He matched O’Brien’s two winners.
DAY 14 REFLECTIONS
R1: Leonardo Angel—Tracked the leaders and went well. Breezed up 500 metres out and cruised clear easily. Will land his hat-trick in this mood.
Magnifico—Battled for the lead until taking up the running coming to the corner. Had no response to the winner’s kick. Stayed on.
Blue Agave - Led and was challenged for the lead by Magnifico, led until 500m out and stayed on at one pace in the final 300 metres.
Star of Wonder - In contention early gradually list way, Disappointing.
R2: Afridi—Held up and going well, closed 500 metres out, allowed to challenge corner, picked up the lead 300 metres out and ran on well.
Pure Strike—Mid-division effort to close 400 metres out stayed on well.
Quasimoto—Speed and going well, every chance corner stayed on.
Fulfill—In touch and going well every chance corner, unable to quicken.
R3: Headlines Again—Made All, quickened clear 300 metres out, impressive. Will continue to dominate.
Creme De La Creme—Close up and chasing leader, every chance corner, no chance with winner, stayed on.
Red Alert—In touch and going well, every chance corner, not pace of winner but stayed on.
Uncle Rog—Behind, ridden along to keep pace, effort to close 500 metres out, finished with purpose when closing and cutting back some 15 lengths. One for the notebook.
R4: Midnight Lover—Looked the part, made all and stayed on well. He was ridden with confidence and could well go in again.
Princess Royal—Track the pace and going well under Boodramsingh, waited with was brought to challenge 400 metres out and though Boodramsingh did all that was possible, could not get past the winner.
Davindra—In touch, and going well, effort to close far turn, unable to breach the gap at corner but stayed on.
Comandante—In touch and going well, looked set to go close at far turn, every chance corner, unable to quicken final 200 metres.
R5: Hello World—Looked well, travelled powerfully behind the leader from the off. Closed to challenge 500m out, got a let-through on the rail entering the straight, quickened away from his rivals, impressive. Can go close in Barbados in the Tanglewood Stakes.
Crown Prince—In touch and going well, travelling well going to far turn, lead at corner, but was soon snatched by the winner. Stayed on well.
Soca Harmony—Mid-division and going well. Every chance going to fat turn closed quickly final 200 metres. Will resume winning ways soon.
Just Exhale—Close up and going well, every chance corner and stayed on well.
In The Headlines—Led and travelled well, Still in control going to the far turn, challenged at the corner and stayed on.
R6: Theory of Colours—Confidently ridden, tracked the early pace until being drawn out to challenge 500 metres out, quickened and stayed on strongly all the way to the line. A well-deserved winner.
Alpha Centauri—Travelling well cruised up to challenge corner, every chance thereafter but had no chance against the winner. He will win again soon.
Magical World—Tracked the leaders and went well, came with a well-timed run 400 metres out and ran on well.
Atta Girl Silvy—Mid pack and in touch, effort to close far turn, every chance corner stayed on.
Twitter King—Always in the firing line and going well, he nearly shocked punters when he came into the straight in second, however, he weakened in the final 200 metres. He has come back to form.
