Zulu Warrior makes amends in Stargas feature

ZULU WARRIOR on Saturday made amends for his loss the last time races were run at Caymanas Park, October 25, closing the first meet after the passage of Hurricane Melissa by landing the Stargas United Racehorse Trainers Association of Jamaica feature at six-and-a-half furlongs.

Partnered by claiming jockey Tyrese Anderson, replacing champion Raddesh Roman, whose insistence to chase down no-hoper FINAL LOAD had resulted in a half-length loss to MR SENATOR, ZULU WARRIOR benefitted from patient handling to win win by two-and-a-half lengths at odds of 3-1.

Justifying owner O & S Racers’ change of rider, Anderson broke ZULU WARRIOR sharply from stall three to lead rivals for the first furlong and a half but smartly allowed COMEHOMETOME to shoot through at the half-mile marker.

Totally ignoring COMEHOMETOME’s sharp move under female rider, Abigail Able, Anderson instead took a glance behind to size up the field, settling ZULU WARRIOR in second, just ahead of BIG JULE, ANOTHER ONE, and KING’S CROWN.

After COMEHOMETOME ran off the first four furlongs in splits of 23.3.3 and 48.4, Anderson made his move with ZULU WARRIOR to pounce a furlong and a half out with an army of horses gathering for a cavalry charge.

After COMEHOMETOME gave way along the rail, ANOTHER ONE tried closing inside the last furlong but flattened, giving way to closers OIL MACHINE and PROVIDENT, neither posing a threat to ZULU WARRIOR, who had already flown the coop.

The return of North American-based riders Tevin Foster and Christopher Mamdeen was a welcome sight and should augur well for the remainder of the season, giving trainers more options to choose from.

Foster booted home GREEN GOLD RUSH for Ryan Darby at odds of 4-1 in the sixth followed by Mamdeen winning astride Al Brown’s PRINCESS KRIS at 2-1 in the seventh.

Roman was restricted to a single winner, moving his tally to 112 wins astride the day’s banker, 3-5 favourite SHOOTING STAR for trainer Adrian Prince and O & S Racers, whose ZULU WARRIOR closed the late double.

Racing continues on Sunday with a 10-race card featuring two Mouttet Mile win-and-you’re-in events, the six-furlong Port Royal Sprint and the Jamaica Cup at nine and a half furlongs.