Roman fires back with four-timer, closes Foster’s gap in Jockeys’ title race
In a thrilling turn of events, title-chasing jockey Raddesh ‘’Sneaky Fox’’ Roman fired back at current leading rider Tevin ‘’Terrific’’ Foster’s impressive four-win haul the previous race day, scoring a four-timer of his own at Caymanas Park on Monday.
Roman’s remarkable performance in the saddle reduced the distance in the championship race, lowering Foster’s advantage to just 10 winners with five months remaining. Roman now has 62 wins this season, while Foster has 72 wins.
Foster, who was winless on the nine-race card, began the day with 72 wins, 14 ahead of Roman, who had 58 wins. Roman was winless on the 10-race card on Sunday, July 7, 2024, which Foster dominated.
Roman’s wins included Neo Star, who won the $1.25-million top-rated Overnight Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m). Trained by Peter-John Parsard, Neo Star won the race by 2 ¼ lengths ahead of
Power From Above (Matthew Bennett) and Sistren Treasure (Robert Halledeen) in a time of 1:55.4 (25.3 x 49.3 x 1:14.2 x 1:40.2).
Roman hustled Neo Star up to take up the running early, leading the field ahead of
Sistren Treasure, Provocativa (Ramon Nepare), and Rainsville (Shane Richardson) around the clubhouse turn and onto the main track. Roman then held Neo Star back, allowing Provocativa to take the lead passing the six-furlong (1,200m) mark.
As Provocativa upped the tempo approaching the half-mile (800m) turn, Neo Star maintained his gallop, staying in striking position. Turning for home, Provocativa failed to kick clear, leaving Neo Star to take the lead and once he did, the race was pretty much over as he powered home easily at the wire.
Neo Star is a five-year-old bay horse bred by Neolithic out of the City Place mare Angel Dreams.
Roman’s other winners on the day were Bold Move in the Knutsford Park Cup for trainer Gary Subratie, Oil Machine in the seventh race for trainer Phillip Elliott, and Major Danger in the ninth and final event for trainer Philip Feanny.
Meanwhile, the $750,000 Henry George Harrison Sr Memorial Cup was won by
Hedge Craft, trained by Welsh Soutar and ridden by Shane Ellis.
The race was a Restricted Allowance V contest for native-bred four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two) and imported four-year-olds and upward (maidens) over six-and-a-half furlongs (1,300m). Hedge Craft won by a length a half in a time of 1:21.4 (24.0 x 48.3 x 1:14.3).
Sugar Sugar (Raddesh Roman) finished in second place and Crucial Alexxya (Richard Henry) finished in third place.
Racing continues this weekend with races on Saturday and Sunday.