Twenty-six-year-old Tristan Phillips has been riding since 2015 and is the leading rider in T&T for this season. Phillips continued his great form on Independence Day when landing two winners for champion trainer John O'Brien.
On the 61st anniversary of this country's Independence - Day 10 of the Arima Race Club's racing season, Phillip rode the "Race Of The Day' when he partnered the four-year-old filly Princess Aruna to a resounding 1 3/4-length victory in the Grade One -Independence Cup over 1,800 metres on the main track at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.
When Guardian Media spoke to Phillips he was beaming with pride, having won two of the six races on the card at Santa Rosa Park. Phillips had four rides on Day nine and began the day with a flourish winning easily by 7 1/4 lengths with Blinding Lights from Princess Royal in the third event. He turned in the fourth race to be fifth aboard El Chapo. He then came back to partner Princess Aruna in the feature before finishing ninth aboard Magnifico in race six.
He said, "On this occasion, I broke the Even-Money favourite Princess Aruna well and I was very contented to take a tow. Crown Prince was going well at the front with Finishing Touch and my horse was a little unbalanced going down the back straight and she was a bit further back than I expected. However, I was confident and never panicked. However, with 500 metres left, I switched her to the outside and she responded. With 400m, left I knew it was all over as she quickened up well and ran on strongly. I am certain she would win when she hit the front and left Crown Prince trailing. She is a good horse, she is a turf jumbie. She quickened up really well for an impressive victory. She is now five wins from five starts on the turf. That is a wonderful performance.
"I am now looking forward to my ride on In The Headlines in the Derby. She has won the first two classics of the 'Triple Crown' and I will be looking to join Kimal Santo as the second apprentice to win the 'Triple Crown'."
