Jamaica Oaks Race Day Review

OVER the 64 years of racing at Caymanas Park there have been bizarre decisions by the promoting companies. At the top of the list is the 2019 decision to stage the Jamaica Derby and the Jamaica Oaks 48 hours apart. Since the Oaks is not part of the Triple Crown series surely it would have been better to slot this Classic — restricted to fillies — as a major event in the last quarter of the season.

Staged as the ninth on the ten-race card, the result of the 83rd renewal of the 2000 metres Grade I Jamaica Oaks has served to highlight the dearth of general ability to be effective over a distance of ground by the fillies foaled in 2021. In fact, the same could be said on the male side of the ledger as the win margins over extended trips have tended to be freakishly wide as well.

Saddled by Jason DaCosta — current champion and leading conditioner — 1000 Guineas heroine Mamma Mia, following a somewhat disappointing 14-length fifth in the St Leger, was bet as the 9-5 joint favourite with who finished third by six lengths then.

For owner Carlton Watson and DaCosta they occupied the envious position of starting here and St Leger winner Thalita two days later in the Jamaica Derby.

Mamma Mia, having flown away from the gates in spectacular fashion, cantered to the Clubhouse Turn and, truth be told, had her field in trouble from here — all of 1600 metres out. The ease with which she led into the backstretch, with Princess Sharon tracking, may have even surprised jockey Phillip Parchment as the pair were clear with 1,000 metres to come.

It was an Oaks field racing in single file for the remainder of the trip, with Mamma Mia outstaying Power From Above (9-2) by twelve lengths and a tired Princess Sharon a further ten in arrears.

DaCosta had a previous winner on the day with She's My Friend (Reyan Lewis) scoring in race five at even money in the 1200-metre sixth event.

Trained by Captain Marlon Brown and bet at odds of 6-5 favourite, Vanquisher, ridden by two-kilo claimer Matthew Bennett, led and held on by a short head to score in the 1200-metre opener but had to survive a Stewards' Inquiry into apparent interference and intimidation of his chief rival.

Princess Sylvia (Paul Francis at odds of 1-2) was a three-length winner in the day's second over 1500 metres for trainer Donovan Phillips.

Race three, run at a distance the same as the second, was won by Modern Miracle (2-1) with Youville Pinnock executing the riding honours for trainer Anthony Nunes first of two on the card.

Ridden by Tevin Foster, it was victory number 16 from 78 starts for straight course specialist, Stanislaus (4-5) in race four.

This is trainer Adrian Prince's, a recent training licensee, first success of his career. Stanislaus scored by over nine lengths and was the first of a riding double for Tevin Foster.

Byron Davis's Bigmanbiden(3-5) arrived in the final stride over the same trip with Jemar Jackson at the reins in race five.

Always clear, Bridal Blush (Devon Thomas) never looked likely to be overtaken at any stage of the 1200-metre seventh event at odds of 6-1 for trainer Donovan Hutchinson.

While in race eight, champion Dane Dawkins was in front with Mrs Lyndhurst (10-1) for the 1100 metres of race eight.

Nunes was back in the winners' circle following hard-knocking maiden Hot Stepper at 7-5 winning the closing event over 1100 metres to close Foster's double as well.

The Training Feat Award is presented to Donovan Hutchinson for the presentation of Bridal Brush, a mare who is difficult to train and who had her last run in January of this year. The Best Winning Gallop was delivered by Vanquisher in the opening event, with Matthews claiming the Jockeyship Award for skillful use of his whip and riding a close finish with the requisite balance and composure.

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