Jadoo is quite Naturelly Classy

JOCKEY Ricardo Jadoo took over the ride on Naturelly Classy from nephew Christopher, and coaxed the bay gelding to victory at odds of 90-1 in the feature Restricted Handicap on Day 26 of the Arima Race Club season at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. Jadoo had the four-year-old owned by the El Paso Stables in the lead in the 1350-metres race from the halfway mark, and he pushed his mount to the wire to hold off a fast finishing pre-race favourite Carnival Messiah.

Naturelly Classy rewarded backers with $192.40 and $17.60 on the tote, and coupled with runner-up Carnival Messiah, the exacta dividend was a handsome $1,029.80. The winner, second and third placed Honour Bound paid $6,032.60, but no turfite managed to forecast the superfecta with Sure Thing getting fourth after Mandela who finished third was disqualified and placed last. This resulted in a whopping $12,810.35 superfecta carryover to the final race won by Over And Above. Jadoo, a clever lightweight rider landed two more  winners on the day’s nine-race programme to be leading jockey with three victories to his credit.

Earlier, Luann’s Passion showed she will be a filly with which to contend in the future in sprint races, when easily disposing of six maiden two-year-old rivals, making every metre of the 1000 metres. Having had the benefit of a race, finishing third behind Arts And Lovers and Flying Millie, the Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj-bred and trained filly showed her maturity, winning in the good time of 1:02.34 seconds. If Dealer’s Choice is to win the Royal Oaks Derby two weeks from now, she will have to improve immensely on yesterday’s run when finishing fourth in a 1350-metres race.

The only horse in the field of 13 runners holding the derby engagement, Dealer’s Choice took fourth position 600 metres out and never appeared likely to trouble winner Over And Above and the other two to finish  ahead of her, Java In Style and Cinco De Mayo who ran a grand race. And with her pedigree on the sprinting side, it is difficult to see Dealer’s Choice winning the derby to be run over 2000 metres. Jack Debideen and John O’Brien shared the trainers’ honours saddling two winners apiece. Next raceday is Saturday, when there will be another proposed nine-race programme, with the feature being a Starter Allowance race over 1200 metres, with a total purse of $23,000.