Roman four-timer keeps Jockeys’ race close

RADDESH ROMAN yesterday responded to Tevin Foster’s St Leger Day blitz with a four-timer of his own, reminding the leading rider that it’s not over until the fat lady sings.

After going winless on Sunday’s 10-race card, dominated by Foster’s four wins, including INTRESTNTIMESAHEAD in the Jamaica St Leger, a blank day which put him 14 behind his rival in their battle atop the jockeys’ standings, Roman presented his arms on yesterday’s Hurricane Beryl rescheduled meet.

After making all astride Gary Subratie’s 9-1 outsider, BOLD MOVE, in the third event, upstaging hot imported favourite PINEAPPLE at six furlongs, Roman swept the last three events on the nine-race card to keep winless Foster glancing over his shoulders heading into this weekend’s Saturday-Sunday meet.

In the seventh aboard 3-2 chance OIL MACHINE, Roman enjoyed an armchair ride, winning by a city block. The title-chasing rider kept his cool astride NEO STAR in the eighth for overnight-allowance runners at nine furlongs and 25 yards, allowing PROVOCATIVA to take over six furlongs out before renewing his challenge coming off the home turn.

Reproducing his fourth-place effort against EASY AS A. B. C., NEO STAR tracked and swept past PROVOCATIVA early in the stretch run to win in 1:55.4 on a track running fast after Hurricane Beryl and its lingering showers kept the water trucks parked and the surface favouring speed.

Roman restored the 10-win deficit with which he had started last weekend with an aggressive ride aboard Philip Feanny’s importee, MAJOR DANGER, in the nightpan at seven furlongs.

Roman used MAJOR DANGER to press KEM down the backstretch before edging ahead six furlongs out, peeling clear of the pack to win unmolested ahead of SUPER ALEX, who outfinished 18-1 outsider WOW HOW.