Roman’s five-timer closes jockeys’ race to a whisker

RADDESH ROMAN dominated yesterday’s nine-race card with a five-timer, sweeping the last four events, including the seven-furlong Thunderbird with MAJOR DANGER, reducing Tevin Foster’s lead atop the jockeys’ standings to two winners in one fell swoop.

Responding to Foster’s four-timer from the previous Saturday, which had opened daylight between the battling riders, Roman first made all with Philip Feanny’s three-year-old, UNBELIEVABLE FORCE, in the second event at seven and a half furlongs, throttling the United States-bred filly before opening up in the stretch run for consecutive wins, her third from five starts.

Roman returned to own the programme from the sixth event to the nightpan, making all with FAITH DOWNIE to beat three-year-old maiden fillies at five and a half furlongs on her third start. In the seventh, PACK PLAYS ran true to his exercise-morning script, Roman being a mere passenger as the foreigner made light of work of overnight-allowance runners on his first start locally at six and a half furlongs.

Imported for December’s Mouttet Mile, three-year-old PACK PLAYS ran a private race, clocking 1:17.3, sending a sharp warning to another foreigner eyeing the US$250,000 purse, DESERT OF MALIBU, who had impressed in last Saturday’s None Such.

Boasting a North America record of two wins, two second-place finishes and third on four occasions from nine starts, PACK PLAYS (Stay Thirsty-Standard Deal) played with the country’s third-best group of horses, making topweight 126lb appear meaningless.

Roman closed a two-timer for Feanny and hat-trick for United States-bred MAJOR DANGER, tracking local-bred SENSATIONAL MOVE into the straight with rail-running acceleration to take closer orders off the home turn.

Claiming rider Richard Henry tried making life difficult for Roman and MAJOR DANGER by angling to the rail a furlong and a half out. However, Henry’s attempt was short-lived, MAJOR DANGER swatting SENSATIONAL MOVE off the lead approaching the furlong pole to complete a hat-trick of wins since fitted with blinkers.

Roman closed the card with JAMES at seven furlongs, producing the Sensational Slam-Crown Princess colt late to grab SHE’S MYHEDGEFUND stealing home under visiting Panamanian Victor Sanchez in the nightpan.

Racing continues at the weekend with a Saturday-Sunday meet to close September.