Apprentices should study Emile’s hat-trick

ALL apprentice riders at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, should be made to purchase a video copy of the last three races on Day 7 of the Arima Race Club current season. And should they entertain the ambition of becoming a topflight jockey they should study this video inch by inch in the comfort of their homes. The video will show the race-riding expertise of Emile Ramsammy in landing a hat-trick in different ways. First Ramsammy displayed patience, using waiting tactics astride Nobleman to land the four-year-old a three-quarter-length winner of the Optional Claiming race over 1600 metres on the turf course.

For his second of the hat-trick, Ramsammy was at his riding best, showing excellent judgment of pace in getting Rebel Music home by two and a half lengths in the feature Starter Allowance over 1750 metres. And he topped these off by using front-running tactics to score with Aticka, making it look all so easy, in the Optional Claiming race over 1300 metres. In the feature, Ramsammy broke Rebel Music fast and, was in the lead after 400 metres, but allowed Soul Asylum and later Super Grey to go by him.

And when he roused his mount 600 metres out, he displayed strength from the saddle in driving Jagdis Suratsingh’s American-bred colt to the wire. Earlier, he held Nobleman among the top four runners while Peace Majesty burnt up the track, and when Tea Time Doc challenged the leader it appeared this pair would dispute the finish. But Ramsammy did not panic and timed his challenge to perfection for Nobleman to score.

With Aticka, he broke smartly and with all the other riders playing a waiting game, he stole a march 800 metres out, relaxed his mount and then kicked clear for a convincing victory. The Trinidadian rider, now resident in Canada, also won astride Laura’s Boy on Saturday last for a four-timer on the ten-race programme. No wonder, in eight racing days, Ramsammy tops the jockeys standings with 14 winning rides, five better than Ricardo Jadoo.