Double Gold Cup winner Dorsett put behind him some negative form to win the feature Diamonds International/Crown Of Light Boxing Day Stakes and Trophy for top-class horses over 1 570 metres at the Garrison Savannah yesterday.
Steve and Allan Madoo’s seven-year-old horse impressively ran the race of his career to slam the field and send a stern warning to all comers for next year’s Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup.
Always a back marker through a testing pace set by Infrared and Just A Fashion, Dorsett was given the go-ahead by jockey Affrie Ward at the two-furlong marker.
He then accelerated to cover the field and join leader Just A Fashion. Deep into the stretch battle, the leader could be seen calling for the winning pole as Dorsett got into full gear and quickly closed down Just A Fashion with every stride.
Once he drew level, the result was never in doubt.
Ironically, that win help pushed trainer Robert Peirce closer to leading trainer Victor Cheeseman in the race for the trainer’s title.
Dorsett’s victory erased a deficit of more than $33 000 to set up a nail-biting finale and send the battle for the trainer’s championship down to the final race.
The jockey’s championship, although looking more competitive than the trainer’s, was swiftly put to rest as Rickey Walcott scored a hat-trick.
He left no stones unturned when sealing the 2017 jockey’s title with two polished victories yesterday.
Sitting aboard the H and M-owned colt Inspired Adventure, the pair circled past the five other opponents to capturing the Boxing Day Juvenile Open Condition Race over 1 570 metres.
He next won the Boxing Day Nursery Trophy Allotted Weights with the very impressive Stealin.
The John Marc Cozier filly disdainfully dispatched her six rivals by ten lengths as they never saw her when she turned into the straight.
The previously unbeaten Lollipop proved no threat to the winner after she went slightly left going through the paddock bend.
After recovering, she then failed to hold off Quality Star for the second position having gone under by three-quarter of a length.
In between those races, Walcott produced a patient ride astride the Steve Samaroo-owned colt Zip Code that ensured his hat-trick.
Registering his third win in four starts, Zip Code came from way off the pace to run by the early leaders for his victory. (LY)
