Father Patrick takes St Catherine Cup in style
Published:Sunday | January 17, 2021 | 12:16 AMAinsley Walters - Sunday Gleaner Writer
CHAMPION apprentice Oshane Nugent produced a textbook stalking ride, piloting 3-2 chance FATHER PATRICK to a second straight win in landing yesterday’s six-furlong St Catherine Cup.
Reporting off a strong victory at seven furlongs among overnight allowance company on December 19, five-year-old FATHER PATRICK effortlessly went in chase of PATRIARCH before dismissing the speedster a furlong and a half out.
A winner of four races last season, FATHER PATRICK has seemingly come to hand, signalling he will be a force to reckon with in top-class sprints and middle-distance events, clocking a solid 1:12.0 after tracking splits of 22.2 and 45.3.
Nugent was among four riders with two victories apiece, making all astride three-furlong straight specialist, PARAJET, who won the fourth event for $180,000 claimers at odds of 3-5.
Linton Steadman was aboard Steven Todd’s first two winners in a three-timer, PAPA ALBERT and BOASY N FLASHY, who made all in the fifth event at five furlongs straight among maidens to hand the third-generation trainer his 200th career victory.
Todd had opened the programme with 4-5 favourite, PAPA ALBERT, an easy six-length winner at six furlongs, completing a hat-trick of $250,000 claiming-race victories.
DRIVING FINISH
AWESOME CHOICE closed Todd’s three-timer in a driving finish at odds of 3-1, brushing the rail to quickly lead past AWESOME BOY at the home turn, but had to dig deep in staving off 10-1 outsider, ONE DON, who was slowly into stride and almost tailed off down the backstretch.
Co-champion rider, Anthony Thomas, split Javaniel Patterson’s two winners, JUST AN ILLUSION in the sixth and VICTORY TURN in the ninth, with back-to-back wins, Todd’s AWESOME CHOICE and 7-5 favourite, THUNDER STRIKE, for Marlon Anderson.