Roll The Dice, Skipaway Prince win features
Roll The Dice and Skipaway Prince shared the co-feature Jamaica Jockeys’ Guild Trophy and the Al Gopie Memorial Cup races on the 10-race at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Roll The Dice, a 7-1 shot, came running on to beat the 13-1 bet Lux to win the $480,000 Jamaica Jockeys’ Guild Trophy event by 4 1/2 lengths, while Skipaway Prince led from the off to repel the challenge of the 22-1 betting option Sea Traveller for a 2 1/2 lengths win in the $462,000 Al Gopie Memorial Cup.
Roll The Dice, ridden by Peter Bryan, ran 1,400 metres in 1:31.1 to open his winning account for the season the second time of asking in the eight-horse field for Restricted Allowance V native-bred five-year-olds and upward (NW2). Lux, partnered by Wilbert Gobay challenged strongly after turning for home but lacked the leg speed to trouble the winner and finished second with the 8-5 favourite Royal Dreamer finishing third 3 3/4 lengths back under Kerry-Gayl Robinson.
Royal Lad, well supported at odds of 4-1, completed the frame under Aaron Chatrie after failing to find anything after turning up the lane.
Trained by Fitzgerald Richards, who is a part owner with Omar Harrison, Roll The Dice, a five-year-old bay mare by Hail Orphan out of Jamaica Gold (Gold Spring) and bred by Vernon Nannan, was winning for the second time in 22 career starts and she earned $262,400 for earnings of $957,450 lifetime.
Installed the 2-1 favourite and ridden by Omar Walker, Skipaway Prince took an early lead after leaving the gates which proved decisive as he ran out an easy first time winner in the 15-horse field for native-bred four-year-olds and upward maidens. A full field of 16 was declared but Apachebird was declared a late none runner.
Trained by Godwin Bucknor for owners/breeders Elvin Duncan and Edgar Llewellyn, Skipaway Prince ran 1,000 metres straight in 1:01.3 to open his winning account.
Sea Traveller, who was closest to the winner at the wire, was partnered by claiming apprentice Conrad Ellis with Lady Ajiban taking third spot another 4 3/4 lengths back.
Rose Of Sharon, the mount of Aaron Chatrie who was expected to win at odds of 5-1 and showed up prominently in the first half of the race, tapered off badly in the final 200 metres to finish fourth, just ahead on Nikan’s Choice.
Skipaway Prince, a four-year-old bay colt by Skipping out of Wakonda (The Medic), was running only for the third time with two fourth place finishes and pocketed $252,250 as the winner’s share for earnings of $305,850.