Roman closes jockeys’ title race with dead heat

Champion jockey Raddesh Roman yesterday booted home a three-timer, reminding leading rider Tevin Foster that the race for the 2026 title was far from over by closing the 10-race card with a thrilling dead-heat finish aboard 9-1 chance WALK THE PLANK, sharing the event with 8-1 shot GIVING THANKS.

Roman, who started the afternoon 12 winners behind Foster, won the opening event astride 3-1 shot UNRULY DON before losing a stretch duel aboard MARGARITA to RUNAWAY STAR, lodging an unsuccessful jockey’s objection against his rival, who appeared to have taken his ground.

Foster, who lost the 2024 jockeys’ title race by one winner to Roman, a thrilling battle in the last race of the year, survived the stewards’ inquiry and double jockeys’ objection, RUNAWAY STAR being his last trip to the winners’ enclosure for the afternoon.

However, Roman returned to land the co-feature Temperence Oaks Trophy with an armchair ride aboard two-time Mouttet mile runner-up LEGACY ISLE, a 2-5 favourite at six and a half furlongs.

Claiming rider Shaheem Gordon briefly stole the show with back-to-back winners, BABY GREY at 9-1 in the eighth followed by FRED THE MASTER at 5-2 in the ninth for the Racehorse Aftercare Trophy, before Roman secured his third with a determined ride aboard Anthony Nunes’ WALK THE PLANK, a son of 2016 Gold Cup winner, Buzz Nightmare.

After going in chase of VICTORIOUS LINKS, who had torn away on the lead of the seven-and-a-half furlong event for non-winners of four races, WALK THE PLANK turned for home just the leader, repelling a wall of horses before Jamaica Oaks runner-up GIVING THANKS charged forward on the outside with Bebeto Harvey.

Both riders claimed the race as their mounts flashed past the post, riling fans, who got even more animated when GIVING THANKS was declared the winner, while WALK THE PLANK’s connections were already inside the winners’ enclosure posing for pictures.

However, what was a routine call, GIVING THANKS first by virtue of being number eight, and WALK THE PLANK 10, was roundly celebrated by backers of both horses after the dead heat was announced.

Roman’s three-timer reduced Foster’s lead to 10, making up ground after spending approximately a month out of the saddle following a July 25 fall from MIDNIGHT GALAXY.

Racing continues this afternoon with a nine-race card.