Mamdeen strikes with three-timer at Caymanas Park

Leading rider, apprentice Christopher Mamdeen returned to form with a vengeance yesterday, booting home a three-timer on the 10-race card, including a chance ride aboard DONTAE in the Kenneth Mattis Memorial at 10 furlongs.

Absent from the winners’ enclosure for the last two racemeets, Mamdeen sat stuck on 63 wins but still well clear of his closest pursuers, fellow apprentice Reyan Lewis and six-time champion Omar Walker.

Signalling his intentions from the opening event, Mamdeen produced a busy ride in the straight to make all aboard 1-5 favourite, RAW LIQUID, repelling FATHER KEN’s late rail run.

Aboard 5-2 chance DONTAE in the fourth, Mamdeen went in chase of UNCLE VINNIE from the half-mile marker, caught him coming off the home turn, and powered through to win by a length and a half.

Mamdeen returned to close his three-timer in the seventh, making all with speedy SOUL CURE, who won unchallenged at five and a half furlongs at odds of 8-5.

The leading rider’s three-timer moved him 17 winners clear of Lewis and Walker, who are joint second, locked on 49.

Lewis scored with 3-1 shot MIRABILIS in the third, outfinishing PHINEAS, but Walker replied with a late two-timer, ROYAL AVIATOR in the eighth and BLIND FAITH in the 10th.

The three-day holiday carnival closes on Tuesday, Independence Day, with nine races scheduled.