Raceday review — Wednesday, April 10

Trainer Richard Azan is known for producing Classic winners. This year his three-year-olds have not quite made the grade thus far for any plausible attempt on these major races.

Then came Wednesday, and for just over 1:08 seconds, Azan was given a lifeline by Doc Holiday. Having not raced since December 26 of last year, Doc Holiday, the Wizard of Gold – Si Mi Trial bay colt, who has been beset by a number of problems, returned in a non-winners of two event over 1,100 metres. Ridden by Dane Nelson, a jockey rarely used by Azan, Doc Holiday came out of the gates in last position, way behind the field and seemingly dissipated his chances of winning there and then. Nelson, in familiar swashbuckling style, kept Doc Holiday going and even when he entered the straight dead last kept pommelling away as Doc Holiday produced a terrific change of speed, to win going away strongly by three lengths over Blue Mountain Man and Frankenstorm.

Truth be told this was not the best assembled lot of three-year-olds, yet Doc Holiday did what he had to do, and got an excellent blow out. Azan must have been a very pleased man at the end, knowing that there is still time to work out the kinks. Doc Holiday will probably race in a non-winners of three, still within his age group before lining up for the Governor’s Cup and then the Derby, all things being equal.

The victory by Doc Holiday sets up an intriguing future Classic prospect and excitement. He has class; he will get the 2,000-metre journey of the Governor’s Cup and the mile and a half of the Derby, while there are not too many of the already established leaders, who can boast this particular credential. Watch Doc Holiday as we are in for very interesting times.

Jockey Nelson is making an effort to curb his natural tendency of riding on the outside in the stretch run as he brought Doc Holiday through the open spaces before asking him for his final winning effort. This is always a better option and Nelson is finally coming to grips with this reality.

Time For Arms

Time For Arms is improving rapidly. After a somewhat dour campaign at three, Time For Arms returned on Wednesday and came from behind with a searing stretch run to catch and beat foreigner and favourite Uppa Tune by just over a length going 1.500 metres at the Overnight Allowance level. It was a hard-fought win and the third in succession for this four-year-old bay colt by Twilight Time – Armsofanangel. The win exemplified the progress he is making, and along with Raging Prospect, are the two native bred horses on the probably course of making the November Superstakes a competitive race against Mark My Word. Let’s hope Time For Arms continues to train and perform well. Trainer Fitzroy Glispie should be praised for his handling of Time For Arms.

The dead heats

The unusual occurrence of a dead-heat in racing took place twice on Wednesday’s race card. The first came in the second race when The Grey Gullion (Shane Ellis) and One Creator (Renardo McNaughton) locked horns from a furlong out and could not be separated by the photo-finish camera. For the trainer of the former, Lawrence Freemantle, it must have been great relief to see his ever trying The Grey Gullion finally breaking his maiden, while it was very pleasing to make that walk to the winners’ enclosure by longtime journey man trainer and conditioner of One Creator, Howard McLeod. The second dead-heat was for fourth place in the seventh race involving Skipping Cool and Mojito Jam. One dead-heat is a rarity, but two in one day is really an oddity.

Jockey Richard Mairs

Jockey Richard Mairs rode two winners on last Saturday’s card, Naturally Evil and RunJohnny Run, both for trainer Phillip Feanny. On both occasions he was involved in close finishes and both times he got the better of Shane Ellis. He returned on Wednesday and also rode two winners — Stevie’s On Wheels and Time For Arms with the latter very eye-catching. Mairs is developing quite an affair for riding winners down the five straight and punters are advised to pay attention. The trick, however, for the young man is to maintain consistency.

Tops for the day

Apprentice Shamaree Muir, Mairs and champion jockey Dane Nelson all rode two winners on Wednesday. Muir earned one of his victories in the Stewards’ room when She’s So Special (Jemar Jackson) was disqualified and Principe was given the race. Muir is leading his other apprentices in number of wins (37) with his nearest rival being Prince Holder with 27 wins. Of the 20 apprentices riding at this time, only three — Sadiki Blake, Zac Meikle and Kareem Richardson Garvey are yet to ride a winner.

Doc Holiday under Dane Nelson romps home to victory in a non-winners of two event over 1,100 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday.

(PHOTO: HURBUN WILLIAMS)