VANCOUVER – Learie Seecharan captured the feature CAN$50 000 George Royal Stakes aboard 17-1 outsider Settecento while fellow Trinidadian jockey Kimal Santo rode a brace, as they dominated proceedings at Hastings Racecourse in Canada on Saturday.
Riding in the penultimate race on the six-race programme, the 26-year-old Seecharan combined with the six-year-old bay gelding to edge the three-year-olds and upward by half-length, in a time of one minute, 15:97 seconds.
Another Trinidadian jockey Kerron Khelawan just missed out aboard second placed Bakken Overdrive.
Going 6-1/2 furlongs, 4-1 chance Stormy Blue duelled with Bakken Overdrive through the half-mile in 45.36, with Seecharan racing Settecento well off the pace.
However, Seeacharan brought the gelding to stalk along the rails down the backstretch before shifting out, surviving a bump with Sunbird turning for home, and outlasting his rivals in the stretch drive.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Santo opened his account in race two also over 6-1/2 furlongs when he paired with favourite Beckett’s Best to beat the three-year-olds and upward by a length.
The winner stalked 3-1 choice Askmenoquestions before bidding on the final turn and getting the better of the exchanges in the stretch.
Santo quickly followed up in race three when he produced a gate-to-wire effort aboard 6-1 chance Dynamiter to dismiss the three-year-old and upward by two lengths.
Going a mile and sixteenth, the five-year-old chestnut gelding sprinted clear before holding off 8-1 Tex Hanley on the backstretch and finishing strongly.
CMC
