There may have been many ups and downs for trainer Howard Jaghai over the years, but the brilliant racehorse conditioner can finally have something to smile about after his mile success of 100th career win.

Jaghai’s landmark came on Saturday, August 26, 2023 when his four-year-old bay filly Premier Identity came up trumps in the $730,000 Maiden Condition Race for native-bred four-year-olds and upward over 5 furlongs (1,000m) straight.

Ridden by Tevin Foster, Premier Identity won the race by 5 ¾ lengths ahead of Neo Star (Ricardo Duhaney) and Balde (Phillip Parchment) in a time of 1:03.1.

“It is a good feeling at the moment. I have been through a lot; a lot of blood, sweat, and tears and I finally reach that important milestone,” Jaghai told the Jamaica Observer‘s The Supreme Racing Guide.

“As I said in a previous interview, this is an important milestone in any sportsman career and yes, I am there and so it is a good feeling. I have dreamed about this day to come and I still have a lot [of] dreams and aspirations yet to be fulfilled but I am working on them.

“My barn is actually in a rebuilding process and I am sure I will get there eventually. I have eight horses now but I have a few to acquire in the upcoming month and basically I am focusing on keeping my horses sound, fit, and choosing the precise races for them and winning more races,” he added.

Commenting on the performance of Premier Identity, Jaghai said that he was 100 per cent confident in the chances of his filly.

“Premier Identity has raced against much better horses in the past and she has been a bridesmaid on six occasions. Going into this race we know she was not a five-straight horse, but she is much better than the field and that she really prevailed,” he explained.

Jaghai, who was born into racing, stated that he wishes to follow in the footsteps of his father, Harry Jaghai.

“I am a second-generation racehorse trainer and the name Jaghai is synonymous with horse racing. My uncle, Henry W Jaghai, OD, JP has been a champion breeder on 10 occasions and my dad, Harry Jaghia, is a legend where he has saddled 341 winners.

“He [my dad] had a special touch with fillies and I think I had emulated him in having that special touch with fillies as well. Both my dad and my uncle were my biggest inspirations. I remember when I was a schoolboy I used to come to the races and I would see my dad having like three horses in the A class races.

“And it was norm for him to run first, second, and third and I always wanted to be like that. I want to carry on the tradition. Not just from a H Jaghai standpoint but I wanted to be that type of trainer that my dad was,” Jaghai stated.