Gandalf wins the night’s feature race

History was created at the Garrison Savannah on Saturday night, when for the first time, races were run under the lights.

The days feature race, the Kingly Street Trophy (Handicap) for 3-year-old and older, rated 140 and below, going 1100 meters, was won by the 5-year-old chestnut gelding, Gandalf, who is by Rocamdour out of Poetic Justice (Janak), owned by Bills Inc, trained by Victor Cheeseman and ridden by AfftieWard.

As starter Mark Batson sent them on their way, both Gandalf and Sir Jimmy broke smartly, and led the field to the three furlong pole, when Sir Jimmy started to back out, leaving Gandalf in the lead, as Zagan, could be seen closing. These two went at it from there, but in the end it was no stopping the Philip Moseley bred, Gandalf, who went on to win from Zagan, with a fast finishing Stealin third.

The night’s supporting feature was the Night Shift Juvenile Breeder’s Stakes & Trophy, for Barbados bred 2-year-olds, going 1100 metres.

Eight horses faced the starter in this one, and as the gates were opened, Criterion, immediately bolted to the left, taking Rachel out of the race, while hampering most of the others on the outside, and which gave the two inside horses an advantage, and they led from there to the four furlong marker, where O’Rico Prescod took back Amante, and allowed Absolute Star to make the running.

Turning for the run to the wire, Prescod shook up the Melrose Racing owned Amante, trained by Rommel Lovell, and she went on to a comfortable win. Absolute Star, was second with Criterion third. Criterion could be considered a bit lucky to have held his position position after causing that amount of interference at the start.

Racing continues on Saturday 26th December (CH)