Atlantic Convoy, Fearless Soul upstage sprinters

ATLANTIC CONVOY and FEARLESS SOUL upstaged established sprinters with come-from-behind wins in yesterday’s divided six-furlong feature, the Arthur Jones Memorial for overnight-allowance runners.

Set up by longshot no-hopers, POSING ALREADY and A GIFT FROM BEN, tag-teaming favourite SENSATIONAL MOVE into the lane, Canada-bred ATLANTIC CONVOY made his move three and a half furlongs out, circling rivals to straighten four-wide.

Quickly going by POSING ALREADY and A GIFT FROM BEN, ATLANTIC CONVOY reproduced the consistency of his previous races since reporting off a two-month break in July, responding to Reyan Lewis’ urgings in a swift dismissal of SENSATIONAL MOVE early inside the final furlong.

Run off the lead by vastly improved American MAJOR DANGER at seven and a half furlongs on August 5, ATLANTIC CONVOY stalking the pace this time around gave the foreigner wings, clocking 1:13.4 against topweight SENSATIONAL MOVE, who had no answer after being hounded on the lead.

ATLANTIC CONVOY’s four-and-a-half-length win closed a two-timer for champion jockey Lewis, one of three riders with two winners on the 10-race card. Lewis had earlier partnered 3-5 favourite PAPA GRAY to a romp in the fourth against older maidens.

In division two, FEARLESS SOUL recovered from his usual stuttering start to settle off a hot pace being set by rank outsider, 78-1 leader, SUGAR DADDY, who carried the field on a merry chase into the lane.

Straightening sixth with Paul Francis, but within striking distance of SUGAR DADDY trying to shake rail-running GRECIAN LIGHT and 4-5 favourite LABAN on the outside, FEARLESS SOUL muscled between horses, going past MRS LYNDHURST, to take over the event leaving the furlong pole.

FEARLESS SOUL clocked 1:14.3 for a three-and-a-quarter length win ahead of GRECIAN LIGHT. SUGAR DADDY shockingly finished third, ahead of LABAN, who in his previous race had division one’s winner, ATLANTIC CONVOY, behind when both were beaten by MAJOR DANGER.

Earlier, leading rider Tevin Foster produced 6-5 favourite BURNING VALOR with a strong stretch run, just off the rail in the third, to soar past MR SENATOR getting the better of ALWAYS WRIGHT at a mile, registering the first of two winners, returning to enjoy an armchair ride astride 3-5 fancy, ADIRA, in the sixth at six and a half furlongs.

Foster’s two-timer put him six winners clear atop the jockeys’ table, 86-80. Challenger Raddesh Roman won the fifth Reggae 6 race aboard 6-5 favourite DREAM WORRIOR at seven and a half furlongs.

Claiming rider Shane Richardson also booted home a two-timer, making all with STANISLAUS in the opening event at five furlongs straight before returning astride 6-1 upsetter ANTARCTICA for a gate-to-wire win in the eighth event at seven furlongs.

Racing continues next Saturday.