THE 10-race Ash Wednesday raceday was a punters’ paradise. Seven favourites obliged with the longest odds of the day coming in the last race, the ‘Dig Out’ handicap when Fearless Babe won at odds of 5-1.

Two of the hottest favourites, however, provided backers with some very anxious moments. The 1-9 Commander One in the first race was expected to win easily, but the cats were set among the pigeons, when after a rather spectacular burst from the four-furlong marker to the two-furlong post, the foreigner, ridden by Dane Nelson, faltered badly in the straight.

Under vigorous urging he was barely able to scrape home by one length over Jah Love, with the increasingly popular Prince ‘Daggerman’ Holder on board. The pint-sized, but powerful Holder has developed quite a backing and is certainly at this time a fan favourite.

Commander One did not change his lead in the straight and ran as if a greenhorn racing for the first time, as he swerved around. Based solely on his run over seven and half furlongs on Ash Wednesday, it is fair to conclude that Commander One is a sprinter and will continue to make his mark at distances six furlongs and below.

It was then the turn of Blast Them Away, a 1-4 favourite in the ninth and feature race for the day, the Ash Wednesday Trophy, over six-and-a-half furlongs.

As expected Blast Them Away (Dane Nelson) went to the lead and came into the last two furlongs looking good. Stable companion Sir Von, with Dick Cardenas atop, challenged in a sustained manner and was even able to point within shades of the wire.

Being the class horse that he is, Blast Them Away found something extra to prevail and complete a rare trainer’s trifecta for Wayne DaCosta — Blast Them Away, Sir Von and Jet Setter. It was a most encouraging run by Blast Them Away, as he was returning to racing duties after an absence of over eight months. DaCosta was the leading trainer on the day, saddling both Commander One and Blast Them Away.

News around the track suggests that all is not very well for former champion jockey Cardenas. His father is ill in Panama and this gloom is obviously affecting him. The usual spring in his step is missing. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery for the father of Cardenas.

The day’s emotional moment was provided when Lady Like, racing for the first time in 333 days with Holder in the saddle, won by just over a length to provide trainer Dwight Chen with a rare win. The very likeable and talented Chen has been out of racing for quite a while. He has been dealing with a health problem which has hampered his ability to ply his trade. So, it was really pleasing to see him in the winning enclosure. Welcome back, Sir Dwight!

The victory by Lady Sharvani went almost unnoticed to the average racing enthusiast. A more-detailed analysis indicates that Lady Sharvani’s win (Omar Walker – Gary Subraite) might be quite significant, as the crop of top three-year-old fillies heading towards the classic races are few and far between.

Yes, Lady Sharvani won a maiden event against strugglers, but she won handily and is sure to improve. The Hotline Stakes on Saturday next will provide more clues on the progress of the fillies going forward.

The battle for the jockeys’ championship is really heating up between champion Dane Nelson and former many times champion Omar Walker. The latter currently leads by three winners, but raceday after raceday they are trading winner after winner. On Ash Wednesday both rode triples, Nelson (Commander One, Justin in Flight and Blast Them Away), while Walker won aboard Lady Sharvani, Agakhan and Emergence.

It has been a rather good year thus far for Emergence, with the six-year-old filly chalking up her third win of the year to be in the unlikely position of top stakes earner for 2013. Emergence was claimed by Dennis Lee after her run on Wednesday.

The competition between the top riders in the land is encouraging, it drives focus on the good side of racing and promotes good, healthy discussion among racing fans.

Of special note, trainer Morris Powell saddled his first winner of the year with Harlan’s Dancer, while jockey Richard Mairs did the same on Fearless Babe in the nightcap.