Don Kwesi makes light work of Linval McFarlane team

DON KWESI made light work of fellow non-winners-of-an-overnight, beating last year’s Jamaica Oaks winner, LINGUIST, by seven lengths in the restricted event for the Linval McFarlane Trophy at six and a half furlongs.

Beaten by overnight-allowance winners in consecutive races, WALL STREET TRADER and NEO STAR, DON KWESI reported in unbeatable form for his down-in-class assignment with claiming rider Demar Williams replacing Dane Dawkins, giving the four-year-old colt a five-pound allowance at the scale.

Hopping to the front after the first half-furlong, DON KWESI first repelled United States-bred FORTUNA BELLE before being relaxed on the lead by Williams.

Turning for home well clear of LINGUIST making her move off the turn, DON KWESI quickened into a half-mile split of 46.3 and 1:11.1 for six furlongs, crippling the filly in his wake before stopping the clock in 1:18.0

Showing improved form at the back end of last season with four wins in six starts, DON KWESI tried stealing a march on United States-bred WALL STREET TRADER when making his 2026 debut with 109lb at six and a half furlongs in the February 18 Ash Wednesday Trophy.

However, the middle-distance specialist was forced off the bridle by SMART TRICK to tear away in splits of 34.2, 47.0, and 59.4. The pace took its toll and WALL STREET TRADER caught up with DON KWESI a furlong out in 1:13.1 before going on to clock 1:20.0.

Having no answer for the grade-two winner’s surge, DON KWESI was further relegated third by super-fit OIL MACHINE closing from off the pace.

Returning two and a half weeks later, still among overnight-allowance winners, DON KWESI, who had never won an overnight, was slapped with 126lb, two pounds heavier than NEO STAR, who had beaten the level from March 23 and had run grade-one winner BARNABY to a half-length on February 8.

Already a course-specialist, NEO STAR, made even lighter by Tajay Suckoo’s five-pound claim, stalked and overpowered DON KWESI a furlong out, beating the brave four-year-old by two and a quarter lengths in a strong 1:58.0 at nine furlongs and 25 yards.

Having beaten non-winners-of-an-overnight in the Linval McFarlane, DON KWESI returns to open overnight company for his next start, primed to make it two wins in a row should he avoid runners dropping class from open allowance.

Meanwhile, defending champion Raddesh Roman booted home four winners to move within one of Tevin Foster, who rode a three-timer to maintain his lead atop the jockeys’ title race.

Roman, who had beaten Foster by one winner, 133-132, for his first title in 2024, prevailing by a short head in the last race of the season, opened the card aboard 4-5 favourite BATTLE ANGEL for leading trainer Anthony Nunes.

Roman won the third astride 8-5 favourite INDESTRUCTIBLE before returning to close Nunes’ three-timer RADAM at 4-5 in the fifth and 9-1 debutant ROCKHAMPTON in the ninth for three-year-old maidens, beating champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s 1-5 favourite EYE OF THE TIGER.

Foster made all aboard 31 chance GOOD CONSCIENCE in the fourth before rattling punters with 27-1 shocker BRISCOE in the sixth, storming from off the pace at five furlongs straight. Returning aboard 9-5 chance BLACK RINGO in the seventh, Foster moved to 25 winners before Roman kept him in his crosshairs by making all aboard ROCKHAMPTON on the faster stands’ side.

The Ketch-9 mandatory payout returned $341,517.50, closed by 4-5 favourite DON KWESI’s impressive run. Racing continues this morning at 11:45 with the Reggae 6 mandatory payout, a jackpot expected to reach $28 million.