DQ leaves Roman slightly ahead in tight jockeys’ title race

A DISQUALIFICATION stole the spotlight for the second consecutive meet at Caymanas Park – only that there were no garbage bins and debris flung into the winners’ enclosure – after it was announced that title-chasing jockey Tevin Foster’s mount, SHE’S THAT GIRL, was moved from first-past-the-post and placed fourth behind rival Raddesh Roman’s PRINCE AMAAN in the seventh event.

The disqualification gave Roman the advantage in the heated jockeys’ title race, 113-112, denying Foster a three-timer. Roman went on to complete a three-timer, booting home UNRULY DON in the following event and closing the 10-race card astride United States-bred OASIS JAK after his earlier victory astride JACK DANIEL in the fifth.

What would have been Foster’s third winner, after starting the day tied on 110 with Roman, went instead to second-past-the-post SHE’S A GODGIFT, who was gifted the five-and-a-half furlong event in the stewards’ room.

Seizing the moment to capitalise on Foster’s adrenaline rush to clear the half-mile marker ahead of SHE’S A GODGIFT, which caused a chain reaction of interference, Roman, who was hindered along the rail astride PRINCE AMAAN, joined a jockeys’ objection lodged by claiming rider Shavon Townsend against Foster.

The vigilant stewards, assailed on Monday by the public for TEKAPUNT’s disqualification, which brought an abrupt end to racing on Heroes’ Day after two events, found favour with the masses, who agreed with SHE’S THAT GIRL’s number being taken down.

Foster had opened the programme astride 3-2 favourite EMPRESS NAKELIA and had raced two clear with a win aboard 2-1 chance, THE SOUL WARRIOR, in the fourth before Roman responded with JACK DANIEL.

Closing the card with a confident ride aboard OASIS JAK, Roman hustled the four-year-old filly to lead speedy MONEY MARKET with Dane Dawkins. MONEY MARKET made his bid three furlongs out but failed to quicken off the home turn when the pair was joined by BURLAP three-wide.

OASIS JAK found a third gear along the rail and sprinted clear under Roman, finishing well ahead of Foster closing from off the pace with GRECIAN LIGHT, who overhauled MONEY MARKET close home for the runner-up spot.

Racing continues on Saturday to kick off November, which has no Sunday scheduled among its five meets.