RACING NEWS — SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2023
FIVE HORSES CLAIMED
Only two were taken from the first event, including winner Blood Song, who was claimed from Tensang Chung by Marlon Anderson for owner Lynden Richards and Winchester McIntosh claimed runner-up Zabratone from Steven Todd for owner Devon Brown. Both were claimed for $550,000 each.
From the sixth event, Smarty Tradition was taken from Errol A Subratie by Norman Smith for owner Orlando Mason and Tyrone Prince claimed Boss Izzy from David Girod for owner Paul Nugent, while Uncle Wal went to Dennis Thwaites for owner Carlton Watson from the barns of Dale Murphy. All went for $250,000 each.
GENEALOGY COMES GOOD, ONE OF TWO WINNERS FOR APPRENTICE SHAVON TOWNSEND, TRAINER KEFFIN MURRAY
After failing to connect in his first eight races on local soil, Keffin Murray’s American-bred Genealogy made good on his ninth outing as he made light work of a Restricted Allowance five-year-old and upwards non-winners of two and imported maidens contest over a mile (1,600m).
Genealogy’s first true sign of potential came on his January 15 seasonal bow, when he came from off the pace to complete a one-two finish for his owner-trainer Murray over the 5-furlong (1,000m) straight course.
He returned on January 29 when he was highly expected to prove competitive over 6 furlongs but ejected the jockey shortly after the start, which left many wondering about his chances heading into Sunday’s assignment.
However, with nothing too impressive in the small six-horse field, Genealogy, who was held third by apprentice Shavon Townsend for the first two furlongs, was sent in front at the six-furlong point and from there went about his business, leaving rivals to toil.
The Data Link – Surfer’s Paradise progeny won by five lengths ahead of Another Champion (Tevin Foster), Hopenperseverance (Christopher Mamdeen), and Stickydon (Anthony Thomas).
The final time was 1:47.3, behind splits of 24.3, 48.1 and 1:15.1.
Townsend also won the third event, a three-year-old maiden special weight event for colts and geldings aboard Dale Murphy’s fleet-footed Ridge Liner in a gate-to-wire effort over 5-furlong straight.
Ridge Liner won by five-and-a-half lengths ahead of Truly Begotten Son (Roger Hewitt), Roaring Thunder (Robert Halledeen), and Curlin’s Noon (Tevin Foster). He covered the distance in 1:02.0, after splits of 24.0 and 48.0 seconds.
Meanwhile, Murray’s double was completed with KP Choice who topped the day’s final event for four-year-old and upwards non-winner of three races and imported non-winner of two races, also over 5-furlong straight.
The Patrick Calder and Richard Brown-owned KP Choice won by two-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of the Phillip Feanny pair of Talona (Anthony Thomas) and Lacrimae (Tevin Foster), with Rum Puncher (Oshane Nugent) completing the frame. He stopped the clock in 1:00.3, behind splits of 23.0 and 47.0 seconds.
CURLIN’S FLIGHT WITH FIGURE-8 ON COMPLETES DOUBLE FOR OWNER-TRAINER PATRICK LYNCH
Following a dismal 2022 campaign in which he not only failed to win a race but also failed to get into the top five in his 10 outings, Curlin’s Flight, sporting the figure-8 for the second time, looked a different animal when winning second time out for the 2023 season.
The dark bay gelding (Perfect Curlin – City Flight) took the field apart in the five-year-old and upwards non-winners of three races and imported non-winners of two races contest over 7 furlongs.
Sent off as the 3-1 third favourite, Curlin’s Flight, owned and trained by Patrick Lynch, left the gates well with jockey Javaniel Patterson and briefly dictated terms before allowing Slamsilano (Samantha Fletcher) to go by.
From there, Patterson held Curlin’s Flight in third but regained the lead, leaving the five-furlong point heading toward the half-mile. The relaxed manner in which Patterson brought Curlin’s Flight into the home stretch all but signalled that it would have been a mere formality from there.
And so it was.
Despite drifting wide, the Michael Bernard-bred Curlin’s Flight won by two-and-a-half lengths. Sensational Ending (Jordan Barrett), Maya (Youville Pinnock), and Thegoodlife (Conrod Ellis).
They covered the distance in 1:30.4. The splits were 24.2, 48.2, and 1:15.3.
With this, his third career win in 26 starts, Curlin’s Flight completed a quick double for Lynch, who had earlier won the fourth event with four-year-old colt Legal Bomb, piloted by Jordan Barrett.
The Legal Process–Fantasy progeny topped the four-year-old and upwards non-winners of two races and imported maidens contest by two-and-a-quarter lengths, covering 6 furlongs (1,200m) in 1:16.4. The splits were 23.2 and 49.4 seconds. AKA Storm (Jerome Innis), Joe (Roger Hewitt), and North London (Samantha Fletcher) completed the frame.
CARLOS BLAKE CAPITALISES ON CHANCE RIDE AS CALL THE EMPEROR SHEDS MAIDEN
He was only scheduled to ride in one race, the curtain-call event aboard Anthony Nunes’ Ha Gow Siu Mei, but as faith would have it, Carlos Blake was presented with a chance ride aboard the Carl Anderson-owned and trained Call The Emperor.
This was after initial rider Kawise Gentle fell from a horse in an earlier race and stood down for the remainder of the day. It was almost like Christmas had come early for Blake and the sparingly used rider certainly made what turned out to be his first ride for the year count.
Sent off at odds of 7-1 in the four-year-old and upward Non-restricted Maiden Condition Race over 5-furlong straight, Blake broke Call The Emperor well from the wide number 11 draw but had to play catch-up to his more fleet-footed rivals.
The Emperor Hall – Call For A Cat gelding was left back in fourth, coming into the main track as Just Move In (Matthew Bennett), Adenosine (Roger Hewitt), and Blue Persuasion (Omar Walker) all seemed full of running.
But with gentle taps of the left-hand whip, Blake gradually brought Call The Emperor into contention before sweeping by rivals at the furlong pole to complete a comfortable four-length win.
Empress Nakelia (Ramon Nepare) closed to snatch second from Just Move In, with Adenosine back in fourth.
Call The Emperor stopped the clock in 1:03.3, behind splits of 25.0 and 48.3 seconds.
It was the first win of the year for Anderson and Blake.
— Sherdon Cowan