Legacy Isle sends warning shot

LEGACY ISLE, the Florida invader, caught at the wire by naturalised American FUNCAANDUN in last December’s Mouttet MIle, yesterday served a six-month warning ahead of this year’s race, clocking an effortless 1:06.0 for five and a half furlongs in the SVL 24th Anniversary Trophy.

Picture-perfect in the parade ring, Rohan Crichton’s LEGACY ISLE left the gate blazing in an opening quarter of 23.1 with Raddesh Roman, breezing through an unaccompanied half-mile in 46.4, winning by nine and three-quarter lengths.

An impressive winner of his previous race, ripping 57.2 at five furlongs straight on May 31, five-year-old LEGACY ISLE’s disdainful treatment of open-allowance company marked his third win from six starts locally since making it out of quarantine in time for the Mouttet Mile.

FUNCAANDUN marked his return to form last Sunday, chasing champion local mare ATOMICA off the lead in the Mark My Word Trophy at nine furlongs and 25 yards before repelling last year’s Jamaica Derby runner-up, RUN JULIE RUN inside the last half-furlong.

The foreign legion, led by FUNCAANDUN, TIZ TOK, BARNABY, LEGACY ISLE and his stablemate, Mouttet Mile runner-up, COMMANDANT, are expected to dominate this year’s win-and-you’re-in races leading to the US$300,000 Mouttet Mile.

The April 5 Ian Levy Cup, won by BARNABY, was the season’s first Mouttet Mile win-and-you’re-in grade-one open.

The Jamaica Derby, 12 furlongs (August 6), confined to native-bred three-year-olds, gives the locals a chance to qualify without facing superior foreigners in open grade-one events.

However, the October 4 Philip Feanny Gold Cup at seven furlongs, Jamaica Cup at nine and a half furlongs (November 8), and Port Royal Sprint at six furlongs (November 8), are all expected to be dominated by foreigners.

LEGACY ISLE closed a two-timer for defending champion and leading rider, Roman, who produced EMPEROROFTHECATS with a searing last half-furlong run to tag GENERATIONAL stealing home in the fourth event with Wesley Henry at five furlongs round.

Henry opened the nine-race card with back-to-back winners, AMAD ALI and LOCKDOWN while champion trainer Jason DaCosta and champion owner Carlton Watson closed the late double with PROVIDENT and CALIFORNIA CROWN.

Racing continues at the weekend, closing June with a Saturday-Sunday dual meet.