Awesome Treasure starts year with a bang
Published:Sunday | January 2, 2022 | 12:13 AMAinsley Walters - Sunday Gleaner Writer
TRAINER Gary Subratie’s AWESOME TREASURE upstaged stablemate SUPREME SOUL, making all the running in yesterday’s Fan Appreciation Day Trophy at nine furlongs and 25 yards.
The United States-bred mare broke sharply from post-position two in the seven-horse field with Dane Dawkins, opening a commanding lead down the backstretch.
Running at odds of 2-1, AWESOME TREASURE skittered away from rivals, including 9-5 favourite BEST DAUGHTER EVER, who struggled with topweight 126lb, unable to dictate the pace and caught flat-footed along the inner rail.
AWESOME TREASURE ran out an easy winner, distancing herself from SUPREME SOUL, who fought off challenges from CHINAMAX and LET HIM FLY to claim the exacta for Subratie.
A five-year-old mare, AWESOME TREASURE won in 1:55.2, closing a two-timer for Subratie and Dawkins on the 10-race card after teaming up to land the third event with TRADITIONAL BOY.
Even-money favourite
Claiming jockey Matthew Bennett also rode two winners, 4-5 favourite KHOLBEAR in the second and 15-1 upsetter, GENERAL MUBARAAK, in the seventh, beating SIR ARJUN BABU by a head after the even-money favourite ran expectedly wide off the home turn, losing more than eight lengths in the upper stretch at nine furlongs and 25 yards.
SWEET MAJESTY ran away with the curtain-call New Year’s Day Trophy, going six and a half furlongs, at odds of 2-1, partnered by Paul Francis.
The pair of million-dollar McKay Security-sponsored purses for lower-level claiming horses were won by CHIEF OF STATE and GENERAL MUBARAAK.
CHIEF OF STATE easily made all the running at three and a half furlongs straight with in-form rider Robert Halledeen in the sixth for $180,000 claimers.
The new year of racing continues on Saturday.