ROYAL ASSAULT, installed a howling 1-5 favourite, justified the support with an all-the-way victory in yesterday's restricted stakes over 1100 metres for native and imported three-year-olds at Caymanas Park.
One of two winners for leading jockey Shane Ellis and trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, ROYAL ASSAULT disputed the early lead with 7-1 chance DWAYNE STAR before opening up from the half mile, holding on by three-quarter length from the fast-finishing WINGS OF HOPE (9-1), in the good time of 1:06.2.
Owned by Preferred Racing, the chestnut colt by Blue Pepsi Lodge out of Mayken ticked off his third from seven starts, all over 1100 metres.
Ellis and Nunes had a second winner in 3-5 favourite GOLDEN BULLET, the 4-y-o colt coming through on the inside approaching the home turn to win the seventh race over 1500 metres by 7 1/2 lengths.
With closest rivals Robert Halledeen and Omar Walker failing to ride a winner on the card, Ellis (58 wins) extended his lead in the jockeys' championship race to three over Halledeen and seven over Walker.
Jevanne Erwin emulated Ellis with two winners - COURT CALL at 5-1 in the opening race and VESPERS at 4-1 in the closing race.
The Dalton Sirjue-trained GARY GLITTER, ridden by Rayan Wilson for owner/trainer Gordon Lewis at odds of 7-2, romped the two-year-old race by six lengths in post-to-post fashion.