At the end of a glorious day of racing, owner Lord Michael Taylor and trainer Anderson Ward stole the spotlight with four wins, including both feature races. A sensational performance by Istanbul, accompanied by jockey Antonio Bishop, saw the colt take the seventh running of the Kathleen Taylor Memorial Stakes and Trophy Conditions Race for West Indian-bred two-year-olds going 1100 metres.The two-year-old broke on top and was quickly settled in third position, as Slip Steam predictably went for the lead.Istanbul successfully chased down leaders Slip Stream and Vitality entering the home turn, as the pace setters had no answer to his turn-of-foot.Second spotIn the end Slip Stream (Anderson Trotman) had to settle for second, with Vitality (Jonathan Grant) third and Areuserious (Rickey Walcott) back in fourth.Lord Michael Taylor told Sunsports: “It is a fantastic day, it is pleasing to win my wife’s memorial race, and I know she was looking down on the proceedings.”He further added: “I am also proud of the feat achieved by trainer Anderson Ward, and new stable jockey, young Jalon Samuel. I am pleased for Istanbul’s victory, and the best is yet to come.”Taylor also spoke highly of young Samuel, and believes he will be a future champion if he keeps a level head.Came from behindThere was more joy in the Blue Diamond Stables as Samuel, on Peaceful Envoy, recorded a come from behind victory in the Radcliffe Hewitt Memorial handicap for three-year-olds and older going 1 100 metres for the top-rated horses.From the start Purr Class, Sharp Impact, Time D’or, Who’s To Say and Bipin all went for the lead, as Peaceful Envoy was seven lengths off followed by Spicey Tiger and Preach To Me.The five leaders were out front all the way to the home stretch but were all tiring badly, and Samuel seized the moment on Peaceful Envoy and went on to win in customary style.Purr Class (Anderson Trotman) who has never run a bad race was second, Who’s To Say (Reshawn Latchman) was third, while Spicey Tiger (Dario Dalrymple) was fourth. Taylor, Ward and Samuel also won The David “Hoppa” Gibbs Memorial handicap for West Indian-bred three-year-olds going 1 100 metres, with Rush Cutter and they closed out the day’s proceeding with Don Portalsonny, who took The Antonio Corbin Memorial Trophy handicap for three-year-olds and older rated 0-95 going 1 570 metres.Three winsTrainer Andrew Nunes and jockey Trotman also recorded three wins on the card.Wins came in The George Corbin Memorial handicap for three-year-olds and older horses rated 0-45 Div (A) going 1 570 metres with Quality Time; Div B of this race with the filly Summer Star; and Gran Slam gave the pair the third win in The Oscar “Locke” Padmore Memorial handicap over 1100 metres. The day’s results keep race for the jockeys’ title very interestingly poised between Trotman and Samuel, with the second season concluding on September 11.
