BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LEADING jockey J’son Liburd saw an unexpected challenge for supremacy yesterday (May 24) at Beaumont Park in the form of Michael Semple, who won three races, claimed EC $26 000 in prizes and is now tied for the top jockey spot with 17 victories this year.
Semple’s first victory of the day came in the second event on the card, a five furlong race that saw the jockey riding Daring Spirit to a first place finish in 1:00 4/5. The race had a wild start as Gold Deposit broke free of jockey Wilfred Castell and took some time to be brought under control.
When the group of maidens (non-winners) eventually cleared the gate, Dominquero came out hot and led by a length coming into the turn. Semple rode Daring Spirit close to the rail in the curve, however, and was able to surpass the leading horse. Both horses surged ahead of the pack in the final furlong, but Daring Spirit was eventually declared the official winner by mere inches.
“[Dominquero] was easy in front, but my horse was coming in and I just had to wait to make the right move,” Semple told SKNVibes following the race.
With minimal rest, the jockey then returned in the third race to win atop Rollofthunder in a time of 0:47 1/5 for the four furlong event. Semple saw less of a challenge in the half mile race after leading out of the post. While a challenge was launched by runner-up Full Breed after the first furlong, Rollofthunder held his ground on the curve and had more than enough energy to cross the line in the top spot to claim the EC $8 000 purse.
Semple’s final victory of the day came in the featured race on the card, a one mile event sponsored by NAGICO Insurance Company Ltd. with a prize of EC $10 000. The race was billed as an inter-island battle with Brilliant Bride and E Z Smile, ridden by Colin Ross and Michael Semple respectively, representing St. Kitts and Zapthatstar and Blessings, ridden by Dwight Jacobs and Laird Bailey respectively, representing Antigua.
The multitude of Kittitian and Nevisian race fans cheered wildly as Brilliant Bride and E Z Smile burst to an early lead in the first quarter-mile. The St. Kitts duo held their charge through the first turn, but Zapthatstar began to challenge on the second straightaway and appeared to be gaining position on the leaders.
However, the special relationship between E Z Smile and Semple prevailed in the final two furlongs and the jockey masterfully pushed into the lead and easily claimed the top prize in 1:41 2/5, finishing ahead of Brilliant Bride and Zapthatstar.
“The day was good to me,” Semple said after the race, thanking the owners and trainers of the winning horses. He also spoke on his close relationship with E Z Smile and said that he was certain he could win the NAGICO-sponsored feature event.
“She's just comfortable with the distance. When it's a short distance she just doesn't feel comfortable. It takes a lot out of her, but doing anything around a mile she's comfortable with it.”
The holiday race event also saw Please the King ridden by Laird Bailey winning the opening four furlong race for maidens in a time of 0:47 flat over Port Oscar and Got to Get a Rhythm.
In the fourth race on the card, Colin Ross rode Norse Spirit to victory in a time of 0:48 1/5 over a distance of four furlongs, while High Wire Glory and Secular came in second and third, respectively. Immediately following that race, it was J’son Liburd claiming an EC $10 000 purse as he rode Prince Igor to a win across six and one-half furlongs, finishing ahead of Al Portador and Schleishinger.
Liburd’s victory was enough to keep him tied with Semple in terms of overall wins, but the stage is now set for an epic clash of champions at Beaumont Park’s next race day, which is scheduled for June 27.
