Pack Plays turns the tables on Legacy Isle

PACK PLAYS yesterday unveiled the speed he displayed in December’s Mouttet Mile and January’s Eileen Cliggott Trophy, dismissing LEGACY ISLE’s challenge coming off the home turn to win the Saint Cecelia Cup at six and a half furlongs ahead of fast-finishing INSPIRE FORCE.

Surprisingly outsped by DIGITAL ONE in the Gregory Park Sprint at five furlongs round when going off as the 1-2 favourite, three Saturdays prior, PACK PLAYS reported a different horse at odds of 4-1 with claiming rider Shane Richardson.

After swatting MAMMA MIA off the lead five furlongs out, PACK PLAYS coasted in front, awaiting Mouttet Mile runner-up, LEGACY ISLE, who went in chase a half-mile out but was left flat-footed when the speedster increased on the lead.

LEGACY ISLE renewed his bid on the outside of PACK PLAYS entering the straight. However, on coming off the turn, Omar Walker’s trademark glance at his mounts’ right fore whenever they flatten early in the stretch run was more than a signal for LEGACY ISLE’s backers to rip their tickets.

LEGACY ISLE found nil when asked to quicken by Walker, unable to reel in PACK PLAYS as he had done when flashing past his fellow American a half-mile out in December’s Mouttet Mile.

PACK PLAYS, running seven pounds lighter than LEGACY ISLE, stayed on to win by a length and three-quarter ahead of INSPIRE FORCE, who rallied from last coming off the turn in a gallant attempt after being slowly into stride.

Champion jockey Raddesh Roman won two races in the stewards’ room, moving to 30 wins atop the jockeys’ standings, awarded the eighth and 10th events astride GIRVANO and COSMIC FORCE, respectively.

Shane Ellis paid the price for a careless ride aboard UNRULY MO in the eighth, at six and a half furlongs, bearing down on rail-running GIRVANO, prompting a stewards’ enquiry before the photo-finish camera went off.

Switched off the rail by Roman, GIRVANO rallied between UNRULY MO and NEPHEW to grab second, awaiting the inevitable disqualification of Ellis’ mount.

In the nightpan, claiming rider Tajay Suckoo did everything right aboard SHOAMITHEBUTCHER, chasing COSMIC FORCE off the lead down the backstretch but forgot his jockeys’ school instructions to be at least a length clear when switching lanes.

Suckoo’s unnecessary hindrance of COSMIC FORCE had Roman running to the stewards with a jockeys’ objection, which was upheld even though SHOAMITHEBUTCHER won by a length and three-quarter as opposed to UNRULY MO, who had passed the post a head in front of GIRVANO.

Racing continues on Monday with the Easter Sprint Cup and a Reggae 6 mandatory payout as highlights.