Patience , confidence and determination continued to pay off for the connections of Ras Emanuel as the Peter McMaster trainee picked up his second win for the season after copping Division Two of the top-rated $1 million Non-Restricted Overnight Allowance event at Caymanas Park last Wednesday, September 25, 2019.

Prior to Wednesday’s race meet Ras Emanuel had not been out of the frame in his last six races, finishing on top once, three times in second place, and two times in third spot.

The seven-year-old bay horse by Burning Marque out of the Pleasant Perfect mare Pleasant Princess, who was registering his ninth win overall, had to pull out all the stops to beat Sergeant Reckless by a nose going down the straight course (1,000m). Ras Emanuel got home in a time of 58.0 seconds after quarterly splits of 22.2 seconds and 44.3 seconds.

McMaster, who was saddling his second winner for the year, said that the key to his charge’s win was based on preparation.

“Yes, he (Ras Emanuel) was well prepared. He was prepared especially for this race, and this is a horse that you have to prepare well for his races. I don’t run my horses if they aren’t ready. Every time I run my horses, 90 per cent of time, they are ready, and that’s why they always run good,” McMaster said in a post-race interview.

While Ras Emanuel is considered as a genuine sprinter, McMaster said that he can also get a distance of ground effectively.

“Ras Emanuel can also get some ground. He is a five-straight specialist, yes, but he can also go seven furlongs as well,” he said.

It was an even start for all nine runners but after the first two furlongs (400m) in the three-year-old and upward event, Sergeant Reckless (Raddesh Roman), Ras Emanuel (Omar Walker), and Honey Ryda (Odeen Edwards) took control, disputing the lead.

Leaving the dummy rails Sergeant Reckless and Ras Emanuel drew away from Honey Ryda, but it was Ras Emanuel who got the upper hand in the end for the win.

Sergeant Reckless ran well for second place with Campesino (Christopher Mamdeen) getting third place.

—Hurbun Williams