Canada-bred ATLANTIC CONVOY, winner of last year’s Bruceontheloose Sprint on Mouttet Mile Day, yesterday won his first race in more than a year, Dane Nelson returning aboard the five-year-old to outfinish hurriedly ridden ZULU WARRIOR with leading jockey, Raddesh Roman, in the Ahwhofah Sprint at six furlongs.
Settled third down the backstretch while Roman gunned ZULU WARRIOR to a five-length lead, ATLANTIC CONVOY started gathering momentum leaving the three-furlong marker as a team with MINIATURE MAN.
Similar to his October 25 gaffe when beaten by MR SENATOR, Roman tried giving ZULU WARRIOR a breather entering the lane. However, ATLANTIC CONVOY was already in striking position, attacking three-wide into the lane, next to MINIATURE MAN, while MAJOR DANGER crept forward along the rail after a slow start.
Responding to Nelson’s urgings, ATLANTIC CONVOY went second a furlong out, reeling in
ZULU WARRIOR, who was already used up in splits of 23.3, 48.3, and 1:01.2.
Though clearly fatigued, ZULU WARRIOR battled bravely to the last half-furlong before ATLANTIC CONVOY pulled alongside and inched ahead. ZULU WARRIOR, the 4-5 favourite, tried rallying but surrendered with 123lb, allowing the foreigner four pounds.
ATLANTIC CONVOY, seventh in the November 29 Kaz Hoshay Sprint won by CALIFORNIA CROWN in which ZULU WARRIOR was second by a length, turned the tables by reversing six lengths on the local-bred.
The Canadian won in 1:14.4 at odds of 3-2, handing winter-bird Nelson his fourth winner in two meets after earlier landing the fifth with three-year-od maiden, NEBUCHADNEZZAR, for Anthony Nunes.
Though losing the competitive co-feature, Roman was at his best aboard three press-button favourites, TURNONTHELIGHT, PHENOMENAL POWER, and DREAMER’S CORNER, who rallied to beat CUTOUT at six furlongs in the Miracle Cure Sprint.
Peter-John Parsard and Nunes saddled two winners apiece. Omar Walker roused 3-1 chance WE JAMMIN for Parsard in the second for two-year-old maidens, staving off favourite SENOR BISCOTTI at seven furlongs.
Roman enjoyed an armchair ride astride Parsard’s runaway winner, TURNONTHELIGHT, in the third among $500,000 claimers at five and a half furlongs, returning the following race astride Nunes’ impressive two-year-old American debutant, PHENOMENAL POWER, a 1-5 favourite, also at five and a half furlongs.
Racing continues with nine events this afternoon.
