Knight Rider scored a workmanlike victory in the main event of the Mohommed S. Mohamad 45th Birthday Race Day at the Garrison Savannah yesterday, when overnight and early morning rain made the track conditions soft under overcast skies.
Jockey Antonio Bishop kept the Edward Walcott-trained gelding close to the early pacesetters in the race for the Mohommed S. Mohamad 45th Birthday Breeders Stakes and Trophy grade II over 1 570 metres for Barbados-bred three-year-olds.
From the start Khartoum led the field, while Sirius Black, Cabin Boy and Alina all remained in contention for the first four furlongs.
Khartoum led the field into the homestretch with the Gay Smith-owned Knight Rider as his main challenger. Sirius Black began to fold under the pressure but Cabin Boy was circling.
Knight Rider remained strongest to eventually win by one and three-quarter lengths. Khartoum, who went around the top turn beautifully wearing specially fitted blinkers with the left eye blocked out, took second place with jockey Antonio Perch aboard.
Cabin Boy, under rider Antonio Whitehall was third, and Sirius Black, partnered by Ricky Walcott, was fourth.
Two of the horses that tycoon Sir Charles Williams has advertised for sale or lease won in grand style yesterday.
Sir Charles’ Derby (2011) and Tanglewood Stakes and Trophy (2012) champion, Kendal Moon, returned to the winner’s enclosure in impressive fashion. Her victory came in the supporting feature, the Saleh and Khatija Mohamad Memorial Stakes and Trophy Condition Race over 2 200 metres.
The race, which returned in a time of 2:27.3 minutes, saw Roars leading from Daga who was surprisingly on the pace with Zoom, Aston Martin, Kendal Moon, Summer Timer and Proud Bajan in attendance, while Indian Officer and Graeme Hill sparred at the back.
At the quarter mark, Daga went up to engage Roars for the lead while Kendal Moon came to the leaders with full revs up. She brought the field into the home turn where jockey Antonio Whitehall had the easiest of jobs in escorting her home.
Indian Officer ran a great race, taking second place with jockey Jarelle Beckles. Aston Martin, with Ricky Walcott astride, was third, while Zoom was fourth.
The Sir Charles/trainer Andrew Nunes double was completed in the Zaina Jean-Baptiste Trophy Handicap over 1 570 metres for three-year-old and older horses rated 25-45 and also open to horses rated 24 and below with Memory Lane.
Anderson Trotman collected two wins for Hopefield Stables to be the day’s most successful rider. First, Reward Me won the Mubarak Nakhuda Trophy Handicap over 1 800 metres for three-years and older horses rated 45-65 and also open to horses rated 44 and below.
Woman Is Boss followed that by taking the Antonio “Swagga” Whitehall Trophy Handicap for West Indian-bred three-year-old maidens over 1 100 metres
Racing continues on June 8.
