Mohanlal upstages rivals in Caymanas Park Announcers’ Trophy

RICHARD Azan’s MOHANLAL, the lone three-year-old in yesterday’s Caymanas Park Announcers’ Trophy, upstaged non-winners of an overnight allowance race in the six-and-a-half furlong event, subjecting last year’s St Leger and Jamaica Derby winner, I DREAM AGAIN, to yet another defeat at the level.

I DREAM AGAIN’s stablemate, FORMALIST, tried setting a cracking pace for the Derby runner to pounce, but Azan’s DANKA foiled the relay by contesting the early fractions, forcing the rabbit off his bridle too early.

After racing fourth down the backstretch, I DREAM AGAIN straightened chasing FORMALIST, but both were soon pounced on by MOHANLAL, who ran reasonably well against open overnight-allowance company in his two previous races, events won by Mouttet Mile favourite THE PRINCE’S SPUR and WALL STREET TRADER.

Down in class among non-winners at the level, MOHANLAL motored past FORMALIST in mid-track at the furlong pole while I DREAM AGAIN flattened after drifting towards the rail, while challenging for the lead a furlong and a half out.

MOHANLAL won going away on a fast track, clocking 1:17.1 under back-to-back defending champion jockey Raddesh Roman, holding a race in hand among open overnight-allowance for his next start.

Meanwhile, the Hover Craft Sprint co-feature was dramatically decided in the stewards’ room between two DaCosta-trained foreigners, Von White’s BIRTHDAY KING being awarded the six-furlong sprint for two-year-olds at the expense of BIG STACK.

In a rarely seen battle of stablemates, Robert Halledeen used BIG STACK to run BIRTHDAY KING off the lead at the half-mile marker, drifted his mount to mid-track when leading rider Tevin Foster came calling in the stretch run.

After realising Foster had switched BIRTHDAY KING to the rail, anticipating his antics, Halledeen flung the reins left, pushing BIG STACK towards the barrier inside the last half-furlong, taking his rival’s ground, which allowed him to rouse his mount, passing the post in front by a head bob, after being headed off close home.

A lengthy stewards’ enquiry followed, during which replays clearly showed Halledeen being the transgressor, for which he will no doubt face the stewards for disciplinary action after being found guilty of dangerous riding and intimidatory tactics.

Foster maintained his 12-win lead ahead of Roman, booting home Gary Subratie’s GOD’S PLAN in the ninth at seven and a half furlongs. Roman had earlier enjoyed an armchair ride aboard K P CHOICE, beating $350,000 claimers at five furlongs round before winning the co-feature astride MOHANLAL.

November’s month of racing opens with back-to-back Saturday-Sunday meets this weekend.