Champion trainer John O'Brien produced Awesome April in January at concert pitch to win the feature event over 1,300 metres on the main track and stopped the Glenn Mendez trained Juice Man from making a successful seasonal return at Santa Rosa Park in Arima on Saturday.
Awesome April who was highly favoured to win the Sian's Gold Sprint on New Year's Days but had to be withdrawn due to a minor setback.
However, the Chevan Maharaj owned four-year-old filly made no mistake and landed the feature at odds of 8-5 for jockey Rico Hernandez.
As was expected, punters made the likely 2019 Horse of The Year, Juice Man, the prohibitive favourite at odds of 1-5 to take the main event, the feature Modified Benchmark Handicap for Three-year-olds and Over Horses Rated 90-70.
When the starter sent the six-horse field on its way Princess Sophia was the early pacemaker, she was tracked by Juice Man with Wots To report in third and Awesome April and Risk To Riches following as Desert Dancer relegated to last after breaking quickly.
Going to the far turn Princess Sophia still held sway but only on sufferance as Ricky Jadoo eased Juice Man closer to the lead.
Rico Hernandez was very alert to the move and allowed Awesome April to take closer order and moved into the third spot just about two lengths off the lead.
Coming to the corner in the $42,500 purse event Juice Man hit the front but only just as Hernandez launched Awesome April with her challenge and the pair began to separate themselves from the rest of the field.
With 300 metres left, the two principals hooked up with Awesome April holding a slender advantage over Juice Man who was fighting back on the inside. Wots To report moved into third as Princess Sophia hoisted the white flag as Risk To Riches closed on the third horse some ten lengths off the duelling leaders.
However, inside the final 100 metres, Awesome April began to get the better of Juice Man and drew away close home for a well deserved 1 1/2 length success. Juice Man made a good return to be second with Wots To Report staying on for third some 10 3/4 lengths behind.
Awesome April signalled her intention for the Sandy Lane Gold Cup on March 7 at the Garrison Savannah in Barbados with a good time of 1:16.2 for the 1,300 metres trip.
Riding honours for the day fell to champion trainer Brian Boodramsing who rode two winners in Spring Valley and Blue Navigator.
Training honours for the day were shared between Champion trainer John O'Brien and Harold Chadee who both saddled two winners apiece.