Dawkins thrills fans with three-timer

DANE DAWKINS rode three thrilling winners on yesterday’s 10-race card, closing the late double with feature-event victories astride DIGITAL ONE and HAZELNUT in the Alsafra Trophy and Flossie McNeil Memorial Cup, respectively.

Wintering locally, on break from Canada’s Assiniboia Downs, since August’s Jamaica Derby weekend, Dawkins, 2022 champion jockey, got his day rolling astride LUCY ON THE GO at four furlongs straight for Peter-John Parsard.

Though going off as the 3-5 favourite after beating maidens at the exact trip on November 15 with Dawkins aboard, four-year-old LUCY ON THE GO (Here Comes Ben-Awesome Lucy) had to be ridden out to win by a neck from 9-1 outsider NOBLE MONARCH, partnered by claiming rider Richie Shakes.

Dawkins’ timing in the co-features were spot-on, keeping United States-bred DIGITAL ONE just off cracking splits being set by NEO STAR for stablemate SUPREMASI at seven and a half furlongs in the Alsafra for overnight-allowance runners.

SUPREMASI, stalking the pace as a team with DIGITAL ONE, made his move three and a half furlongs out, going in chase of NEO STAR. However, Dawkins kept smooth-travelling DIGITAL ONE in touch, avoiding the trap of an inviting rail run by straightening three-wide of the stablemates coming off the home turn.

A strong runner-up to fellow American, DOTHRAKI, one of two Florida invaders flown in for the US$300,000 Mouttet Mile set for December 6, DIGITAL ONE reproduced her October 19 form, pouncing on NEO STAR and SUPREMASI a furlong and a half out.

Ridden out by Dawkins, Gary Subratie’s DIGITAL ONE overpowered SUPREMASI inside the final half-furlong, proving stronger than the local-bred running at odds of 11-1 with Panamanian Dick Cardenas. DIGITAL ONE won by a length in 1:33.3 as the 6-5 favourite, prevailing under a strong ride from Dawkins.

The four-year-old filly won in the silks of the late Don Wehby, former senator and group chief executive officer of GraceKennedy Limited, who passed on July 26.

Dawkins was equally lethal in finishing astride Richard Azan’s HAZELNUT, closing the 10-race card with a rousing ride to outbattle long-time leader SUMMER PALACE with Robert Halledeen.

SUMMER PALACE, foaled by England’s Rose, a full sister to 2017 Triple Crown winner, She’s A Maneater, led from the off, repelling challenges from CUTOUT and FAMILY FEUD. However, HAZELNUT’s sweeping move, wide of horses leaving the half-mile marker, brought the leaders into Dawkins’ crosshairs.

Closing strongest from off the pace after straightening fifth, HAZELNUT mowed down SUMMER PALACE close home, winning the event restricted to fillies and mares, non-winners of two races, by a half-length in 1:16.0.