Apprentice Dane Dawkins bags a triple

Apprentice Dane Dawkins lit up yesterday's 10-race card with a sparkling three-timer, closing his act with a driving finish aboard Gary Subratie's United States-bred AWESOME DESTINY at 1820 metres to hold off British invader KALAMATA on her debut.

Underlining her preference for two-turn races, 12-1 outsider AWESOME DESTINY was sent to the lead from postposition one whereas KALAMATA was slowly away and taken to the rail by apprentice Javaniel Patterson where she recovered to race fourth down the backstretch.

AWESOME DESTINY carried the field past the half-mile, stalked by 2-1 chance KALAMATA, who moved into second, but fell back to fourth when the pace quickened, leaving the three-furlong point.

Dawkins set sail for home with AWESOME DESTINY coming off the home turn with HOUDINI'S MAGIC and KALAMATA in chase.

AWESOME DESTINY was still travelling strongly on the lead a half-furlong to run, but had to be ridden all out to thwart a furious late charge from KALAMATA, prevailing by a neck in a final time of 1:55.3.

Dawkins rode a contrasting race in the previous event aboard notorious short runner, BIG PAUL, saving the four-year gelding for the stretch run in the 1100-metre sprint for maidens to overhaul EMANUEL, who tried to make all.

BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES

A two-kilo claimer, Dawkins had opened his account on the 10-race card astride 5-1 chance RAY RAY in the fifth, storming home from off the pace to catch HEAT IT UP with Shane Ellis at 1100 metres, completing back-to-back victories with the six-year-old mare for trainer Fitzgerald Richards.

Subratie saddled two winners to emerge the day's leading trainer, also landing the sixth race with BIBLICAL LEGEND, a runaway winner with Shane Ellis in a maiden event for three-year-old fillies at 1100 metres.

Racing continues on Saturday with the feature being the 10-furlong Jamaica St Leger in which Jamaica Derby winner SHE'S A MANEATER will seek to close out the Triple Crown for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.