Mamma Mia goes post to post for Arthur Jones title

ROBERT HALLEDEEN and Jason DaCosta, last year’s Mouttet Mile and this season’s Jamaica Derby winning combination, yesterday teamed up to land yet another trophy race, MAMMA MIA making every post a winning one in the Arthur Jones Memorial at six furlongs.

Competing down-in-class for the third time this season, MAMMA MIA made it two wins from three starts among overnight-allowance runners within six months, finishing third at the level four weeks ago behind two out-of-class foreigners, RIDEALLDAY and GIRVANO.

Having, yet again, proven herself better than overnight allowance, MAMMA MIA returns to open allowance where she had spent February to mid-June, racing against foreigners, who should really have been domiciled in grade one, most having factored or placed in last year’s US$250,000 Mouttet Mile (Grade One).

Sent to the lead by Halledeen, MAMMA MIA, the 2023 Guineas and Oaks winner, easily turned back JUSTIN BIGTIME, using speed, which has served DaCosta as rabbit for stablemate FUNCAANDUN to defeat local champion mare ATOMICA on two occasions.

Slithering along on a wettish track made fast from Friday’s rain, MAMMA MIA covered the first half-mile in 47.1, Halledeen peeping through his legs approaching the home turn, not at a fading JUSTIN BIGTIME but trying to find Philip Feanny’s foreigner, FEARLESS FORCE, on his radar.

Sneaking third along the rail with claiming jockey, Tyrese Anderson, a 114lb rider, United States-bred FEARLESS FORCE motored in the stretch run to charge at MAMMA MIA carrying 126lb.

However, Halledeen roused MAMMA MIA inside the final furlong, nursing home the five-year-old mare by three-quarter length in 1:13.1, handing the in-form rider and DaCosta their second winner of the afternoon following MINEOLA’s win against three-year-old maidens in the seventh at seven and a half furlongs.

Jockeys’ Guild president, Philip Parchment, also rode two winners, BELLA BELLA and MILLINIUM STAR, in the fifth and sixth events, riding on a caveat, awaiting an appeal hearing after being handed a 25-day suspension for intimidation and interference to LINGUIST and DANKA at the start of the Jamaica Oaks.

Champion and leading jockey Raddesh Roman also rode back-to-back winners, ROCKET FIRE SEB and BOSS MAN, in the second and third events, moving to 83 winners, 35 clear of Halledeen.

Racing continues on Saturday.