Magical Victory takes Champion Stakes, Set Sail wins Futurity

On a track made sloppy by overnight rain, the three-year-old son of Performing Magic/Bitter End owned by Dr Rupert Indasr Jr, tracked early leader and evens favouerite Bigman In Town for most of the 1800 metres trip.

And when jockey Brian Boodramsingh asked for an effort, he joined the three-time winner of the race 800 metres out and galloped on to a 1 3/4 length victory over the 2014 Derby winner.

For Bigman In Town ita a tremendous effort having not raced for more than 11 months and giving ythe winner 4.5 kilos.

Earlier, Set Sail displayed her devastating speed in winning the Futurity Stakes for locallyu-bred two-year-old over 1100 metres.

Sent off as the odds-on ? favourite, Dave Chadee’s daughter of Gold Market/Luv Boat, took up the running in the 1100 metres event after 200, metres and the previously unbeaten Cactus Treasure tried to go with her.

But when jockey Sheldon Rodrigo gave her the office 800 metres out, she set sail for home and won in a good time of one minute 06.62 seconds, hand timed, leaving runner up Blind Date four lengths adrift. Cactus Treasure plodded on and finished third another 1 1/4 lengths back.

Ronald “Tiger” Ali made another big stride toward winning this year’s jockeys title when he landed Jesse’s Girl while defenxing champion Prayven Badrie had a blank day. He now leads 42 to 37. It was another good day for favourite backers with only one of two Hi5 dividends reaching $7,055.80.

No jockey managed more than one winning ride, but Lester Alexis and John Leotaud stood out among trainers..co.tt