It was a tense sixth race on the final day of racing for the 2023 season with Brian Boodramsingh and apprentice Tristan Phillip tied on 13 wins.
It all came down to the final ride on the Boxing Day card on Tuesday with Boodramsingh being given the ride on Theory of Colours and champion apprentice Phillips aboard Alpha Centauri.
Punters and turfites alike were plunging on the Glenn Mendez-trained Theory of Colours with Boodramsingh riding the two big race winners on the day at Santa Rosa Park in Arima, in Headlines Again and Hello World.
Boodramsingh’s mount was all the rage with Alpha Centauri at 5-1 in the betting. But, the punters and turfites had it right and the two dominant horses fought out the finish in the Modified Benchmark Handicap three-year-old and over horses rated 35-0.
When the starter sent the field off, the speedy last-time-out winner Little Lady, stablemate of Theory of Colours, was first to show. She was pressed by Twitter King and Magical World as Boodramsingh manoeuvred his mount to the inside as Alpha Centauri had to be checked.
Going down the backstretch, Little Lady and Twitter King kept up the gallop as Boodramsingh and Theory of Colours moved closer to the leaders with Magical World tracking and Alpha Centauri closing up.
Coming to the corner, Twitter King picked up the race and went for home as Little Lady and Ricky Jadoo had enough meanwhile Boodramsingh asked Theory of Colours to go and win her race as Phillips brought Alpha Centauri to challenge.
The crowd at Santa Rosa Park erupted as Boodramsingh and Theory of Colours pulled a length clear of Twitter King and the challenging Alpha Centauri and the battle was on, Boodramsingh versus Phillips.
At the line, the Glenn Mendez-trained Theory of Colours won to give Boodramsingh his ninth jockeys’ title.
As it now stands, Boodramsingh is just one win away from Brian Harding who won the championship ten times.
After the race, Boodramsingh said, “It was good to come back and win the championship. I believed that I could and the trainer and owners gave me what was needed. I must thank my trainer John O’Brien for his kindness and skill in getting his horses ready to perform in the manner that they did. I thank everyone, the grooms for their support in my venture. My first two winners were easy but I had to ride for my final victory. Thank You, Glenn Mendez.”
O’Brien continued his winning ways and took the two major events on the final day of this season. Both horses were ridden by Boodramsingh.
O’Brien and Boodramsingh ended the season just as they started winning every major event contested. The leading rider of the day as well was Boodramsingh who rode three winners in Headlines Again, Hello World and Theory of Colour.
“It was a tough battle but I came out on top. Tristan will have his day in the sun soon. But I hope all goes well with Headline s Again and the improving Hello World in 2024,” he concluded.
