Esquire takes Caribbean Turf Championship

Persistent heavy showers forced the race to be run off on the main track, and Harding had his mount tracking pacemaker and stablemate Oasis for most of the trip and surged into the lead 600 metres out to take the first prize of $60,000 for owners Ms Stables.

Oasis held on for second while pre-race favourite Grand Riviere who won the race last year, ran on strongly for third after a poor start to give champion trainer John O’Brien a 1-2-3 finish.

The race was run in blinding rain making visibility very difficult throughout.

The Hi5 dividend on the quintet of Esquire, Oasis, Grand Riviere, Slippery Sam and Alexander produced the best dividend of the day, a handsome $8,657.40.

It was a day when young apprentice rider Dillon Khelawan chalked up his first winning ride astride Unbridled Way.

No jockey managed more than one winning ride on the eight-race programme.

But trainers Derick Mosca and Lester Alexis shared the honours, each saddling two winners.

Fourth day of the new season will be run off at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday.