Sensational Soul, Social Aviator top Sunday features

SENSATIONAL SOUL and SOCIAL AVIATOR used rail routes to win last-furlong duels in yesterday’s Kingston and Portmore Guineas trials, respectively, both clocking 1:35.1 at seven furlongs.

A full brother to 2019 St Leger runner-up Toona Ciliata, Gary Subratie’s SENSATIONAL SOUL stalked the pace set by 3-5 favourite RUNAWAY STAR being pressed by BROMPTON BOY down the backstretch.

RUNAWAY STAR’s stablemate, I DREAM AGAIN, picked up the chase early in the stretch run after BROMPTON BOY threw in the towel coming off the turn. Driven all out to repel I DREAM AGAIN, RUNAWAY STAR won that battle but not the war.

SENSATIONAL SOUL, enjoying the longer trip after being outsped at six furlongs in March’s Sir Howard Stakes, motored along the rail with Shane Ellis to squeeze past RUNAWAY STAR, denying champion jockey Raddesh Roman a hat-trick and fourth winner on the nine-race card.

Meanwhile, SOCIAL AVIATOR, who lost the Thornbird Stakes to HANSA with an 11lb handicap against her, rebounded with an eye-catching victory in the Portmore, equalling SENSATIONAL SOUL’s time, setting the stage for a battle of the sexes in the St Leger and Jamaica Derby later this season.

Turning for home fifth, while DANKA tried her best to get away from MISS MONEYPENNY, KHALEESI, MIGHTY GULLY and BURNING HEDGE, SOCIAL AVIATOR awaited space against the rail to produce her lethal late kick.

BURNING HEDGE, last year’s Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes winner, who absolutely hated the tough ground and stinging sand being kicked at her in the Thornbird Stakes, surged forward a furlong out to hit the front after challenging DANKA as a team with MIGHTY GULLY.

However, a confident Robert Halledeen roused SOCIAL AVIATOR against the rail to outfinish BURNING HEDGE by a neck, announcing herself as the new fillies’ queen ahead of the 1000 Guneas and Jamaica Oaks.

Claiming rider Richie Shakes won back-to-back races to open the card, booting home unbeaten five-year-old THE HOT DANCER to a third win, followed by victory astride United States-bred BOWMORE, who made all to beat Canadian MISS GROVE, both owned by Hubert Kerr’s Nadon.

Reyan Lewis, 2023 champion jockey, also rode two winners, PRINCESS CATALEYA in the third at five furlongs straight and IANNAI LINKS among $350,000 claimers in the fifth.