Foster lands enquiry riddled three-timer

LEADING RIDER Tevin Foster twice survived stewards’ enquiries yesterday, plus an objection from title-chasing rival, Raddesh Roman, to boot home a three-timer, extending his lead to 10 atop the jockeys’ standings at Caymanas Park.

Foster, who already has a slew of disqualifications deferred, hanging over his head in abeyance, had his first brush with the stewards when opening the programme with Ryan Darby’s 1-2 favourite, ABSOLUTE BLUE.

Taking over from NOBLE IMPULSE down along the rail early in the stretch run, Foster angled ABSOLUTE BLUE right to meet Roman closing aboard CONUNDRUM, doing just enough to avoid hindering his rival’s mount.

After making all with ATOMIC ENERGY, who sealed a two-timer for Adrian Prince in the seventh at six and a half furlongs, Foster later escaped PASSWORD’s number being taken down in the closing event after using similar tactics, drifting his mount right with left-handed whipping when challenged inside the final half-furlong.

Foster’s edgy three-timer sent him 10 winners clear of Roman, 68-58, who made all with 4-5 favourite, CATABA, closing a two-timer for Darby in the fourth at five and a half furlongs.

Whereas he was fortunate in the stewards’ room, Foster felt the brunt of Robert Halledeen, who beat him in contrasting fashion in either leg of the divided seven-furlong Hubert Bartley Memorial.

In division one, Halledeen drove home MILOS, staying on grimly to win by a diminishing neck from DIGITAL ONE with Foster aboard.

Showing marked improvement under Gregg Fennell’s care since claimed from Anthony Nunes mid-December, MILOS, with Foster aboard, was mowed down by United States-bred INSPIRE FORCE for the second time in a month last Sunday, losing back-to-back races against the foreigner at five and a half furlongs.

MILOS collared leader BURLAP a furlong and a half out before, ironically, repelling Foster astride 1-5 favourite, DIGITAL LIGHT, who was surprisingly outsped before rallying inside the last furlong to get within a neck.

MILOS clocked 1:28.1, light years slower than 8-5 favourite, FRED THE GREAT, who posted 1:25.4 with Halledeen in division two, a half-hour later. Halledeen nabbed Foster stealing home astride 9-5 chance PROVOCATIVA, a fellow American claimed for $1 million from Rohan Crichton off an impressive victory on June 1.

Champion trainer Jason DaCosta shared the spotlight with Ryan Darby and Prince, each saddling two winners on the 11-race card.

Racing continues at the weekend, a Saturday-Sunday meet, featuring the 10-furlong Jamaica St Leger on Saturday.