Favourites stroll home in co-features

PROHIBITIVE favourites, NIPSTER and ENGLAND’S ROSE, running at odds of 2-5 and 1-9, respectively, yesterday made short work of rivals to land the Hot Line and Sir Howard Stakes, six-furlong prep races for April’s Guineas classics.

Hemmed in along the rail after breaking from post-position one, NIPSTER was angled three wide by Anthony Thomas to challenge RUM WITH ME and CASH IS KING entering the lane.

The result was never in doubt as NIPSTER, having kept far better company in six previous races, pulled clear to win by two lengths ahead of late-closing MONEY MONSTER.

NIPSTER clocked 1:13.3 after taking over a half-mile split of 46.4, times put to shame by the filly, ENGLAND’S ROSE, in the Hot Line Stakes.

Making a mockery of conditions, which allowed her to run among non-winners of two races, out-of-class ENGLAND’S ROSE, who won the first two events for two-year-olds last season, hopped to the front, blinding hapless rivals in splits of 22.4 and 45.2, winning by eight lengths in 1:12.0.

Omar Walker enjoyed an armchair ride aboard ENGLAND’S ROSE, champion mare SHE’S A MANEATER’s full sister, announcing her return off a five-month break as though she was never out of training.

CLASS OF THE AFTERNOON

In the clash of the afternoon, United States-bred SPARKLE DIAMOND, returning off a seven-month lay-up, was hauled up by Simon Husbands coming off the home turn in the ninth event at five furlongs round.

TREVOR’S CHOICE partnered by Raddesh Roman, capitalised and ran past the American to close a hat-trick of wins, clocking 1:00.0 to beat 17-1 outsider ANASO.

Alford Brown saddled two winners, 4-5 chance TREVOR’S CHOICE and even-money favourite BEACH BOY, who made every post a winning one in the sixth with Shane Ellis, clocking a quick 1:06.3 for an eight-and-a-half length victory.

Apprentice Reyan Lewis visited the winners’ enclosure twice to top his peers, booting home MIRABILIS and TRADITION in the eighth and 10th races, respectively.

Racing continues at Caymanas Park midweek with the Ash Wednesday holiday meet.